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Gold Theft Suspect Arrested At Traffic Court

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By LISA A. DAVIS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 19, 2008

PORT RICHEY - The theft of $17,360 in gold jewelry from a mall kiosk in March led authorities to traffic court Thursday, where they arrested Chad Daniel Keck, 20.

On March 6, the day of the theft, the assistant manager at the jewelry kiosk turned her back for a moment to struggle with a display case lock, but that's all the time it took for a tray of valuables to disappear.

Amber Sharp was showing mostly gold necklaces to a couple at the Piercing Pagoda in Gulf View Square mall, but they decided not to buy anything, a Pasco County Sheriff's Office report states.

Meanwhile, a teenager and a young man were walking around the kiosk. Sharp said the boy was leaning over the counter "looking around at everything but the jewelry," the report states.

Sharp briefly left the tray next to the cash register while she tried to unlock the display case where the tray belonged. When she went to grab the tray, it was gone.

On Thursday, a sheriff's detective tracked down Keck at traffic court in New Port Richey and arrested him on charges of grand theft and violation of the state Pawnbrokers Act. He was being held Friday at the Land O' Lakes Jail with bail set at $10,000.

Video surveillance at a nearby jewelry booth showed Keck carrying away the tray of gold jewelry, the report states.

Ifran Muhammad, who owns the other business, watched as Keck entered a light-colored pickup, and he jotted down the tag number, the report states.

Witnesses later identified Keck from a sheriff's office photo pack.

Keck, whose address isn't clear, told Detective Peter Collazo he didn't steal the necklaces but he said he pawned three of them, the report states.

In all, 43 pieces of jewelry - mostly 10-karat gold - valued at $17,360 was stolen.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083 or ldavis@tampatrib.com.

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