Priceless jewels stolen

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Police are investigating a high-dollar heist in the heart of an upscale south Charlotte neighborhood. One family's losses top $100,000.

The victim, a resident of Piper Glen Estates, said the thieves took a pillowcase from her own bed to clean out her jewelry box in her bedroom.

"I feel very vulnerable and violated," said the victim, who did not want to be identified. "It's unsettling."

Burglars busted down her back door. They stole $150,000 worth of jewelry.

The woman had pictures of everything for insurance purposes. The thieves stole rubies, diamonds, bracelets, earrings, necklaces and rings -- all worth thousands and all priceless.

"There were quite a few pieces from my mother who was deceased. My mother's ruby ring. That was hers. That's gone. I loved that ring, and I actually loved it. Those types of things are irreplaceable."

But the woman said she is thankful because she thinks she narrowly missed running into the thieves.

"I'm lucky to be alive," she said. "I think that they were probably there when I was here."

And she worries about how badly they wanted her jewels.

"I'm thankful if it had to happen, it happened to me the way it did," she said. "As hard as it is to lose them, someone's life is more important than the material things."

The woman's house was the only one robbed in the neighborhood.

Police say they have no suspects. Investigators believe the thieves might have been in the house before because they went right for the jewels in the bedroom.