From Deseret News archives:
N.J. jewelry salesman robbed
A blue or black four-door sedan pulled up beside the salesman, and four men in the car confronted the 52-year-old man, said Orem Police Lt. Doug Edwards.
Edwards said the salesman, who was at the La Quinta Inn and Suites at 521 W. University Parkway, did not hand over his bags without a fight.
During the confrontation, police said, the salesman was stabbed on both hands with a knife or sharp object, and a major artery was hit.
The men also dragged the salesman across the parking lot until they were able to wrest the jewelry case away from him, police said.
Blood trailed across six parking stalls, back to the salesman's car and into the lobby of the hotel.
A hotel employee said the man entered the lobby, covered in blood, and told her, "I just got stabbed."
Orem police dispatchers received her 911 call at 4:26 p.m.
Blood was also spattered on the trunk and bumper of the salesman's car. A smashed neon orange gift bag lay nearby and a pair of sunglasses was wedged behind the rear right tire of the car.
Edwards said the salesman was transported to the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Police were not able to interview him until late Monday, so details of the incident, including what type of jewelry he had in his case and a description of the robbers, weren't available Monday night.
The incident Monday is similar to others that have occurred in the past few months.
On Jan. 23, three men robbed a wholesale jewelry salesman as he walked toward Kohl's in American Fork just after 2 p.m. A green minivan pulled up and the men demanded the salesman's jewelry bag and car keys. The man handed them over and the three men drove away.
On Jan. 10, a wholesale diamond salesman was robbed outside a Murray Holiday Inn Express at 4465 S. Century Drive at about 10 a.m. Two men pulled up alongside the man and demanded his briefcase. The men slashed the tires of the salesman's rental car before they drove away.
On Dec. 13, the owner of AAA Jewelers and Loans at 601 S. State was carrying a bag of jewelry to his car parked next to the building. He was approached by two men, who shot at him and robbed him. A bullet grazed his chin.
In August and November of 2006, two jewelry salesmen staying at the Hampton Inn and Suites at 851 W. 1250 South in Orem were robbed of jewelry and money.
Edwards said officers hadn't connected Monday's incident with any other jewelry heists but would investigate after officers were able to interview the salesman.
E-mail: asnyder@desnews.com
