Police name jewel robbery suspect

Jeffrey Galleher

The release early this month of surveillance video photos of a smiling man implicated in a jewelry store holdup has resulted in numerous tips and what police are calling a positive identification of the armed robbery suspect.

The suspect has been identified as Jeffrey Dean Galleher, 38. He has ties to Riverside County and Las Vegas, but no known home address has been released by police, who are searching for him.

Video photos of the suspect were published in the Thousand Oaks Acorn last week. He was described by witnesses as "a charming guy" before he suddenly and forcibly removed a wedding band from the finger of an 83-year-old female jewelry store worker while pointing a handgun at her head.

He left the store with Pat Curts' diamond wedding ring, a second diamond ring, and an unset diamond.

The suspect had reportedly visited Hampshire Jewelry, 15 Hampshire Road, earlier in the week. He reappeared at around 10 a.m. Sat., Dec. 1, returning that afternoon to rob the store.

A a felony warrant has been issued in Riverside County for Galleher's arrest, with bail set at $1 million. The warrant is in connection with a similar robbery at the Milou Jewelry Store on Nov. 21. The suspect was allegedly seen earlier that day walking around on the street where the jewelry store is located.

An employee of the Riverside County jewelry store said the man entered the store and asked about some jewelry. Later, he returned, took an undisclosed amount of jewelry, and fled on foot.

Galleher is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, 200 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes, said Detective Eric Buschow of the Ventura County Sheriff 's Department.

"He's to be considered armed and dangerous and should not be confronted," Buschow warned.

- Nancy Needham