COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Columbus police are looking for a man who robbed a 75-year-old woman and took a ring that was more than 200 years old.
It happened on December 21 at a home near Gender Road and Refugee Road in Columbus.
According to Columbus police, the victim was outside filling her bird feeder when a man appeared behind her. He forced her into her home at gunpoint and robbed her.
“I was ready to push the garage door down and he was right there,” describes the victim of that violent encounter.
The cat- and bird-lover has lived in her condo since 1994.
The man went into the house, demanded jewelry and money and began to go through the dresser in the victim’s bedroom, according to a police report.
Among the items reported stolen was a ring that had been in the victim’s family since the 1800s.
It is not the first time the victim, who asked NBC4 not to reveal her identity, has been robbed. Four years ago, a man entered her home armed and demanded cash, jewels and other items.
“It’s a tragedy that this has happened to her twice now,” said Columbus Detective Phillip Thomas. “We really like to bring some closure to her and recover this family heirloom.”
The victim, with a gun at her head, gave the suspect what he wanted. She said he took several gold chains and an envelope filled with cash. She also said he forced her to take off two rings, one a family heirloom that dates back to the 1800s.
“The cameo belonged to my great, great, great Aunt Ivy. 1857. She had a chip on the side of her nose,” the victim said, describing the stolen ring.
“He said ‘I’m not going to hurt you, I’m not going to hurt you,'” she said. “‘I just need money. I’ve been a victim, my family is on the street and I have to have money.'”
Since losing her family treasure, the retired teacher has been searching high and low to get it back.
“I’ve been visiting pawn shops. I don’t know if he gave it to someone for a few bucks or, I don’t know.”
She may not know where the ring is now, but she refuses to leave her home of 21 years.
“I’m not afraid. I’m not one of those kinds of people,” said said.
Police released a sketch of the ring and a description of the ring on Wednesday.
Police described the suspect as a white male between 25 and 35 years old, weighing between 160 and 170 pounds. He was wearing a navy blue hooded sweatshirt, black clothing, a mask and gloves.
The ring has a bronze-gold band and an onyx square stone with rounded edges. The stone has a white image of a cameo woman in the center. The ring also has four prongs, one on each corner of the stone, also bronze-gold in color.
According to the police report, some cash and other jewelry was also taken.
Anyone with information is asked to call Columbus police at 645-4588 or email pthomas@columbuspolice.org.