FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – About $350,000 worth of jewelry was recently stolen from a vehicle that was parked outside an Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, authorities announced Friday.
The theft was reported about 6:45 p.m. Jan. 1 outside the restaurant at 2203 S. Federal Highway.
Authorities said a black male broke into the vehicle and stole several pieces of jewelry, including three necklaces and a ring, as well as furs.
According to an incident report, a valet attendant called police after seeing the thief rummaging through the Cadillac Escalade.
The owner of the vehicle, Robert Falk, told police that he had just arrived to South Florida on a National Jet at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
He said there were two men servicing the plane, who might have known about the contents of his luggage.
"I really believe we were followed," Susan Falk told Local 10 News. "When I pulled in, there was a car right behind me coming off of Federal Highway. I pulled right into the parking lot. They parked exactly right next to me on my left side."
The Falks said they recently attended at black-tie event hosted by President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago for New Year's Eve.
They said the jewelry is their luggage was the same jewelry that she wore to the event.
Susan Falk said the jewelry not only had monetary value, but some of it had been in the family for decades.
Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. A reward of up to $10,000 is offered for information that leads to an arrest. The reward expires Jan. 22, 2019.