Millionaires shoplift from Seaside jeweler

On March 12, women reported to be three wealthy business owners from Auburn, Ala., were apprehended by the Walton County Sheriff's Deputies after a Seaside retailer reported them stealing jewelry from her business earlier that day.

According to the complaint filed by Hooch and Holly's owner Candice Abuvala, deputies from the Walton County Sheriff's Office responded to her call reporting a theft of $2,795 worth of jewelry.

Abuvala told deputies three women entered her store and took jewelry from a display and replaced it with a much-less expensive decoy.

"The three women were well dressed and middle-aged," said Abuvala. "Two of the women kept us distracted while the third took the jewelry."

When the suspects left the store, manager Jennifer Black noticed the item missing and followed the women to the parking lot.

"When I saw them leave, I immediately noticed the stuff was missing," she said. "I walked outside and got the tag number of their Chevy Tahoe before they sped off."

The Sheriff's Office traced the tag and apprehended the women near the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort on Wednesday night.

Abuvela said she was told the women own multiple businesses near Auburn and have been stealing from Seaside shops and elsewhere for several years now.

"They have been hitting 10 businesses each year," she said. "They are apparently millionaires who own businesses such as farm supplies and retail shops."

Hooch and Holly's reclaimed its merchandise the following day.

"We are happy that everything worked out,"said Abuvala.