PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN 6) – A man accused of stealing $30,000 in loose diamonds from 2 jewelry stories is behind bars and facing 1st-degree theft charges.
David John Morales Jr. allegedly walked into the Lloyd Center Mall in Northeast Portland on July 5 and asked to look at the diamonds, then grabbed them and ran.
In late June, Morales allegedly pulled off a similar theft from a jewelry store in the Washington Square Mall, Tigard police said.
Between the two heists, investigators say Morales got away with diamonds valued at about $30,000.
Records show the 52-year-old has been convicted of 19 felonies, 5 misdemeanors and 6 probation violations. His charges between Oregon and Washington include 1st-degree burglary, 2nd-degree assault, 2nd-degree robbery, bail jumping, assaulting a public safety officer, escape and multiple counts of first-degree theft.
Morales is being held at the Multnomah County Inverness Jail on a probation violation and the two new theft charges. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday afternoon.
The DA’s Office is reviewing the case in Multnomah County. The Tigard case is still pending and maybe referred to the Washington County DA’s Office.