Police are reviewing security video from a jewelry store in Pudong after a diamond ring worth about 320,000 yuan (US$38,554) was stolen last Saturday.

Shop assistants at the Chow Sang Sang Jewelry Shop, which is located on the first floor of the Nextage Department Store, reported the theft that afternoon.

Pudong New Area police refused to give details of the theft, but said their ongoing investigation has yet to come up with any strong leads.

Several sales clerks at the store refused to talk to reporters yesterday, saying they were not on duty when the theft occurred.

But a security guard from the department store told a local magazine on Monday that the theft was committed by a group of three to four men.

He didn't say, however, if he saw them commit the crime, or learned how many people were involved from the security video.

He told the magazine that the suspects pried open a counter inside the shop when the salespeople were busy and made off with the valuable ring.

"Apparently the thieves had done a lot of preparation before going into action and they came especially for the diamond ring," he told the magazine.

In response to the theft, Nextage has moved three counters containing diamond rings to a corner of the shop where two clerks can keep a close eye on them at all times. The store has also increased the number of security guards on duty.

"I can assure you that the security situation in the department store is OK in terms of technology," said a company official surnamed Wen.

"There are surveillance cameras installed on every floor of the building, especially near stores where valuable articles are on sale."

"We are cooperating with Pudong police to solve the case," she added.

Wen told Shanghai Daily that the company has provided the video tapes from security cameras to the police.

(Shanghai Daily March 10, 2005)