Man steals $70,000 worth of jewelry from Cedar City store, second suspect at large

CEDAR CITY, Utah (ABC4) — A man is in custody after stealing $70,000 worth of jewelry from a Cedar City jewelry store early Sunday morning, according to Cedar City Police. The man’s accomplice is still at large.

Eric Drexel Resma, 47, was arrested in Iron County on charges of aggravated burglary (first-degree felony), aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury (second-degree felony), theft with a value of over $5,000 (second-degree felony), among a slew of other charges.

At around 4:25 a.m. on July 27, Resma and an unknown suspect went to a jewelry store on N Main Street in Cedar City. Resma was driving a black Acura RDX with a license plate covered with underwear.

The passenger got out of the car, according to a probable cause affidavit, and broke the front window of the jewelry store with a crowbar. He then began breaking display cases and putting jewelry into a camo backpack.

The owner of the shop who lives upstairs heard the noise and went downstairs. The individual reportedly then assaulted the owner and fled in the Acura, as the store owner chased after, leaning into the vehicle as Resma was driving away.

A Southern Utah University police officer spotted the vehicle with no lights and a covered license plate and attempted to make a traffic stop. Resma then fled from the officer.

The store owner reportedly drove around the area looking for the Acura after the incident and spotted the vehicle southbound on I-15. He witnessed one of the suspects drop the backpack out of the car as he continued following.

As the owner followed, Resma reportedly crashed the Acura on the frontage road of I-15 Northbound at mile post 30. Officers arrived as the suspects fled on foot.

Police caught Resma hiding in the bushes shortly after. Police also found the camo backpack, which had stolen jewelry with price tags still on them. Inside the vehicle, officers found more jewelry, methamphetamine, a sledgehammer, and a crowbar.

The amount of stolen jewelry is estimated to be $70,000.

Resma was booked into Iron County Jail on the aforementioned charges. The second suspect is still at large.

The outstanding suspect is described as a male last seen wearing a dark-colored hoodie and a mask. Residents in the Pintura area are urged to remain alert and report any suspicious activity. Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Cedar City Dispatch at 435-586-2955.