Over $100,000 in jewels, heirlooms taken from Ponte Vedra Beach home

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The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is trying to find the thief who burglarized a home of an elderly couple in Ponte Vedra Beach.

The heist netted the burglar a stash of jewelry worth over $100,000. Much of the was family heirlooms.

The victims, Jack and Patricia Billingsley, have been married 58 years. But many of the physical memories close to Patricia’s heart are gone.

“It feels like a part of me has been ripped out of my body,” Patricia Billingsley said.

The burglar even took her original wedding band.

The thief gained entry to the home through an unlocked front door. The Billingsleys often left the front door unlocked because they believed they lived in a safe area, they said.

The thief ransacked their drawers after they left their home at 3 p.m. They returned at 6 p.m., but didn’t notice their bedroom was ransacked until later that night.

They feel like the thief waited for them to leave — and then made their move.

“They took none of my silver jewelry so I guess I’ll become a silver girl,” Patricia Billingsley said.

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Cox Media Group