Jeweler Transporting Stones Was Robbed at Gunpoint on Side of I-5

An Orange County jeweler transporting cash, jewelry and precious stones from El Cajon claimed he was forced off Interstate 5 in Oceanside and robbed, a sheriff's sergeant said Saturday.

The employee of Brilliant Diamonds in La Palma was in El Cajon Friday buying and trading jewelry and other precious stones. He told deputies that, as he headed back north around 8:30 p.m., he was approaching Harbor Drive when a driver behind him began flashing his high beams, sheriff's Sgt. Dustin Lopez said.

The jeweler thought the other driver was trying to alert him to some type of problem and slowed down. A different vehicle pulled up alongside the victim, with a gun-wielding man in the passenger seat, according to the victim, Lopez said.

The gunman motioned for the jewelry store employee to pull over, and he immediately pulled to the shoulder, according to the victim, Lopez said.

The drivers of the two suspect vehicles blocked the jeweler's car in, according to victim's account. The gunman walked up to the man's vehicle and demanded cash and jewelry, which were then handed over, Lopez said.

The victim was not injured, as the two cars disappeared north on Interstate 5, Lopez said. No description was provided by the victim.

Lopez asked anyone with information about the robbery to call the sheriff's department at (858) 565-5200, or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

—City News Service