The arrest of two persons in the theft of more than $10,000 in jewelry from Kmart might lead to similar charges in two similar robberies.

Justin Adkins, 34, and Jodie Sparks, 32, both of Lucasville, were found at a Linwood Avenue, Lucasville, residence Wednesday by New Boston Police Department Capt. Steve Goins and Scioto County Sheriff’s Detective Paul Blaine, after police said they were identified from surveillance video footage Tuesday.

Goins said the charges stem from an incident at 5:10 p.m. Tuesday where Adkins and Sparks were together and were looking at high-priced wedding rings. Two rings, one a two-carat bridal set valued at $8,340, and another a diamond ring valued at $2,340 were snatched from the employee, Goins said.

“She (Sparks) actually leaves the store and gets in her vehicle that’s parked right out front,” Goins said. “Then he grabs the two rings from the employee’s hand, and runs out of the store and gets in the same vehicle, then they speed away.”

Goins said Detective Blaine knew the suspects.

“We probably spent four hours this morning in Lucasville, looking everywhere in Lucasville, mainly in the bottoms area,” Goins said. “We got information that they were at a trailer on Linwood Avenue. The owner of the trailer let us in, and, sure enough, they were inside the trailer.”

Goins said the merchandise was not recovered at the scene, and the two suspects have not told authorities where the jewelry is.

Goins said Kmart notified the NBPD Wednesday afternoon that a similar theft took place at the Kmart store in Grayson, Ky., in which $6,000 in jewelry was grabbed.

“Surveillance footage shows it’s the same suspects,” Goins said. “They may be looking at the same kind of charges over in Kentucky.”

Goins said they are also being investigated by another police agency.

“Portsmouth PD (Police Department) are also investigating this,” Goins said. “On Sept. 23 at Diamond Gem, they had the same thing happen, and both of these people are suspects in that one, where a $2,000 ring was stolen.

Adkins is charged with grand theft, while Sparks is charged with complicity to grand theft. Sparks was also wanted on a Portsmouth Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear.

Both will appear this morning in Portsmouth Municipal Court.

FRANK LEWIS may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or flewis@heartlandpublications.com.