Jeweler forced off I-75, robbed at gunpoint

11/8/2006

MONROE - A jewelry dealer from New Jersey was robbed at gunpoint yesterday afternoon of more than 400 pieces of jewelry and a laptop computer after his car was forced off southbound I-75 at North Dixie Highway in Monroe County's Frenchtown Township, Michigan State Police said.

The jewelry dealer, who was not identified, was forced onto the shoulder about 12:30 p.m. by an older-model black Ford Explorer, which then pulled in front of him. Two men got out and pointed semi-automatic handguns as they approached his car, police said.

The men demanded he open the doors. When he did, they took the computer and the 14-karat gold and diamond jewelry pieces from the front passenger seat, police said.

The victim was ordered to lower his head or he would be shot. The suspects then fled, police said.