ASSOCIATED PRESS
June 11, 2008
ATTLEBORO, Mass. -- Thieves broke into a jewelry company over the weekend and stole up to $2 million in gold, gems and other valuables, including Super Bowl rings made for New York Giants staff members, authorities said.
The thieves disabled the alarm system at E.A. Dion Inc., cut a hole in the roof and made off with a safe that weighed at least 1,000 pounds.
The loss was discovered Sunday by a Dion employee, who went to the business when she was unable to access her work e-mail from home, apparently because phone lines had been cut. The heist could have taken place at any time over the weekend, Sgt. Jim Keane said Wednesday.
The Super Bowl rings made by the company were to be given to the Giants staff members to commemorate the team's win over the New England Patriots, team spokesman Pat Hanlon said.
The players and coaches had already received their rings last month. The staffers were to receive identical ones - white gold rings with the "NY" logo is set in diamonds and "World Champions" emblazoned in raised letters. They were designed by Tiffany and Co. and have a retail value at $25,000 each, the team said.
The company does not discuss specific customer's orders, President Edward Dion Jr. said.
"We've talked to our major customers and let them know what happened, and I am confident we'll be able to fulfill our orders," he said.
The family-owned company, which has been in business for 40 years, was back up running at full speed and re-evaluating security, Dion said.
The case remains under investigation by Attleboro police with assistance from the FBI.
