Thief swipes rack of earrings from Aspen jewelry store

A shoplifter made off with a jewelry rack containing 10 sets of sterling silver earrings from the Chepita jewelry store and art gallery Monday afternoon, according to Aspen police.

The total value of the stolen jewelry is estimated at between $700 and $1,500, according to conflicting police and Chepita sources.

Beth Smith, manager of Chepita, said the rack of earrings was taken between about 1 and 3 p.m. Monday.

“[The earrings] were all on a rack and somebody walked by and took the rack and all, and put it in their coat, allegedly,” said Loren Ryerson, patrol supervisor with the Aspen Police Department.

The earrings were all the creations of artist Judith Jack, Ryerson said.

“They’re basically all sterling silver – some have pearls, some have amethyst – and all are unique pieces,” he said.

Ryerson said he does not believe the incident is related to the Jan. 9 heist of $75,000 in jewels from the Piranesi jewelry store, located, like Chepita, in the 500 block of East Cooper Avenue.

Police have issued an arrest warrant for Christopher M. Daley, a suspect in the Piranesi robbery.

Smith said nothing of the nature of Monday’s theft has ever happened at the jewelry store and art gallery before.

Ryerson said police have no suspects in this latest crime at this time.