Woman accused of stealing rings from jewelry store

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Police charged a 44-year-old Corvallis woman with theft, accusing her of dashing out of a jewelry store Monday with two rings worth almost $10,000 combined.

Detectives took Melissa K. Cox of Philomath into custody Thursday.

Police said Cox had both rings with her at the time of her arrest.

Cox was booked and released on one count of theft, a class C felony.

Mike Anderson, owner of Anderson's Jewelers at 457 SW Madison Ave., told police a woman came into the store multiple times on Monday, June 25. She looked at several items and evenutally purchased a pair of earrings.

While in the store, she looked at several other pieces of jewelry, including a ring priced at $9,500. The suspect took the ring and a second ring priced at $350 and ran from the store while Anderson was distracted.

Police said media coverage of the theft resulted in tips that led them to suspect Cox.