Cape Girardeau police searching for jewelry thieves

Cape Girardeau police are searching for four suspects in the robbery of a jewelry store that occurred Wednesday morning.

According to police spokesman Sgt. Jason Selzer, police received a call around 10:40 a.m. that there had been an armed robbery at Jayson Jewelers, 97 N. Kingshighway.

A single employee was working at the store at the time, Selzer said.

A man and woman entered the store first and began looking around as if shopping for wedding rings, then a third suspect, a man, came in brandishing a handgun, Selzer said.

He instructed the other man to "take her in the back." The employee was then handcuffed and led into a break room at the store, Selzer said.

The robber wrapped duct tape around her head so it covered her eyes and forced her to lay down on the floor, telling her to stay quiet, Selzer said.

The three suspects left with an undisclosed amount of jewelry and met a fourth suspect in the parking lot. The employee was able to pick up the phone and call 911, Selzer said.

The suspects fled in a small yellow compact car, Selzer said.