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GBI sketch released of woman in Zales armed robbery
Dawsonville heist could be part of tri-state crime spree
Sketch of jewel thief
Authorities are trying to identify this woman, wanted in connection with at least four jewelry store robberies, including the Aug. 5 heist at North Georgia Premium Outlets. - photo by For the Dawson Community News

The Dawson County Sheriff's Office has released a rendering by a Georgia Bureau of Investigation sketch artist of the woman wanted in connection with last month's armed robbery of Zales Jewelry at North Georgia Premium Outlets.

The unidentified dark hair woman, who was reportedly wearing a dark baseball cap, blue button up shirt and khaki pants, made off with more than $13,000 worth of jewels during the Aug. 5 heist.

She is considered a suspect in at least three other jewelry store robberies in Panama City Beach, Fla., Bluffton , S.C. and Woodstock.

More than $400,000 in jewels was taken during the Panama City Beach heist.

Authorities believe the woman is in 20s, approximately 5'8" tall and 130 pounds. An unidentified black male described in his late 30s to early 40s, about 6' tall and 250 pounds has also been named a suspect in the cases.

Each of the "robberies mirrored the Panama City Beach robbery and the suspects appear to be of the same build in reviewed surveillance video," according to a press release from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Jacksonville office.

"In all [the] cases, the woman has the same M.O. She comes in early in the morning, forces the employees to the back of the store and zip-ties their hands," said Dawson County Sheriff's Maj. Ray Goodie.

While no one has been injured in either of the robberies, the FBI is calling the suspects armed and dangerous.

The Jewelers' Security Alliance is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of the female robbery suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to call Dawson County Sheriff's Inv. Travis Greene at (706) 344-3636, or the the FBI Jacksonville Field Office at (904) 248-7000.

The reward hotline can be reached at (800) 325-1883.