$224K life savings in gold, jewelry and cash stolen from St. Paul home

A St. Paul woman lost her life savings when someone broke into her home Saturday and stole 100 gold bars, a $36,000 diamond ring and $60,000 in cash.

Police spokesman Steve Linders said the woman had hidden the items in different areas of her bedroom because she doesn't trust banks.

There have been no arrests in the case and there is no suspect information, he said. It's unclear if the burglary was random or targeted.

"Right now, our investigators don't have a lot to go on," Linders said.

The burglary occurred between 9 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. in the 1600 block of Abell Street while the 57-year-old woman, her boyfriend and her daughter were gone.

The daughter, 33, returned home from work to find a side door pried open and the home ransacked, Linders said. The bedrooms had been rifled through and drawers were left open.

The only items taken were the valuables from the mother's room.

"As officers were talking to the victims, the mother appeared physically ill," Linders said. "She said her life savings had been stolen."

The gold bars each weighed one ounce, and are valued at $1,277.70 a piece, Linders said. The ring was a Mother's Day gift from her daughter.

There were no recent burglaries that appeared similar or linked to Saturday's case, Linders said.

Citywide, burglaries were down 3 percent this year as of late September compared to the same time last year, according to police.

"We need to find the person or persons responsible so she can have her future back," Linders said.

He asked citizens to be wary of anyone trying to sell them gold or a diamond ring.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 651-266-5771.

Chao Xiong • 651-925-5034