A jewelry wholesaler was killed in Huntsville, Texas, after an altercation with thieves who were attempting to steal merchandise from his van.

Arif Sayed of Sayed Wholesale left the International Gem & Jewelry show in Houston on April 17 around 6 p.m. to return to Dallas, according to Kent McClenahan of the Texas Jewelers Security Hotline.

McClenahan tells JCK Sayed and his wife stopped at a Huntsville McDonalds. “He went to the restroom and when he came out he saw someone was removing his merchandise,” McClenahan says.

According to the newsletter from the Texas Jewelers Security Hotline, Sayed grabbed the bumper of the suspect’s car, and eventually was run over. 

Sayed was taken to Hermann Hospital with several broken bones. He died April 19. He was 59.

The Texas Jewelers Security Hotline is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects.  

According to the Jewelers’ Security Alliance,  jewelers should not chase suspects during a robbery.

“The gangs that attack the jewelry industry will not hesitate to use force, including deadly physical force, when a jeweler confronts them or resists. Confronting a jewelry gang in the commission of their crime too often results in tragedy,” John Kennedy, president of the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, tells JCK.

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JCK