A three-carat diamond ring worth 2.19 million yuan, about US$321,742, was stolen last Friday from a jewelry store in Wangfujing, one of Beijing's most famous shopping streets, the Beijing News reports.

According to a security notice released by local police on Tuesday, a foreign man stole the diamond ring at 9:00 PM Friday from the Tiffany's in Oriental Plaza. The store clerks called the police after failing to catch the robber.

An unnamed employee in a nearby crystal shop told the Beijing News that someone threw something onto the counter while the jeweler was showing the ring to a foreign customer in the shop on the first floor. When the jeweler turned around to pick up the object, the ring was taken away.

The report noted that the case is under further investigation by the police.

(CRIENGLISH.com September 1, 2010)