Brazen Diamond Heist Inside Naperville Jewelry Store

NAPERVILLE (CBS) -- Police are offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information about three people suspected of stealing diamonds from a west suburban jewelry shop last week.

The whole caper was caught on surveillance tape.

The heist took place inside Precious Fine Jewelry in Naperville, which requires customers to be buzzed in.

Police say three suspects were in cahoots, using an old trick: distraction, CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports.

Rajesh Patel can't believe he was duped by three suspects--two women and one man.

One of the women grabbed Patel's box of loose diamonds, while the other two distracted him.

He said that he was never suspicious of their behavior inside the store.

The heist, which happened Aug. 26 just before noon, netted the thieves 30 stones worth $200,000.

Patel says the man involved, who was about five-feet tall, wanted to buy a loose diamond for a ring.

The other woman's ruse? She was looking for a gift for her dad.

Patel said the second woman came in last and just loitered.

On the tape, she is seen trying three times to swipe the box before finally stealing the loot.

Patel and police say the woman who actually took the diamonds left first.

The man and the other woman were still in the store when he noticed the diamonds were gone. Patel did not see a getaway car.