Sixty thousand dollars' worth of jewelry was stolen from Gold Originals by Charlotte early Saturday morning – the day before the store's 25th anniversary.

The thief, or thieves, gained entrance to the Main Street store through a back hallway in the building (204 Main St.), cutting through a wall and crawling into the store's back room, Gerry Briemon, the store owner's husband, said in an interview this morning.

The back room is not rigged with an alarm.

Once inside, the thief or thieves appear to have broken through the wood panel above an inside door, and climbed over the door frame.

It was in this next room that the intruder or intruders set off the motion-detector alarm at around 2:15 a.m.

The thief or thieves then proceeded to the store front and office where Briemon does his jewelry cleaning.

A garbage can had been emptied of its contents and the bag apparently used to hold the stolen goods, Briemon said.

One display case was ripped open, the contents cleared out.

Among the items stolen from the store were:

• various pieces of gold nugget jewelry, including necklaces, bracelets, and rings;

• a gold nugget with diamonds;

• men's gold chains; and

• busts used to display jewelry.

The thief or thieves left through the back of the store and out a rear door of the building.

While the store has experienced previous burglaries, this was the first time it was broken into.

Charlotte Briemon, the owner, said she was devastated when she heard about the theft.

It was a "big downer” on the 25th anniversary events held the following day.

"You work hard to try to get ahead in a small business, you struggle from year to year and to have that amount taken from us is very devastating,” she said.

The business is not insured, she noted, because companies won't insure jewelry stores.

"So it's a complete loss, unless it's recovered.”

Gerry Briemon said customers should keep their eye out for an "our loss is your gain” sale.

The couple is asking that anyone with any information call the store at 668-7928 or the RCMP at 667-5555 or 667-5551.

Police cannot release any information regarding the theft at this time because it's still under investigation, Const. Dean Hoogland told the Star late this morning.