Jewelry

Even if you're not yet ready to retire, San Miguel de Allende is perfect for a vacation or long weekend getaway. Getting there United and American airlines offer connecting flights (via Texas) to San Miguel's two closest airports, Leon/Guanajuato (BJX), 90 minutes away, and Queretaro (QRO), one hour away. Round-trip airfares start around $600. Multiple airlines offer flights to Mexico City, which is three hours from San Miguel. When to go January may be the sole inclement month to travel, and even then it's nothing compared to a typical Baltimore winter.

The following is compiled from local police reports. Our policy is to include descriptions when there is enough information to make identification possible. If you have any information about these crimes, call the Wilkens Police Station at 410-887-0872. Wilton Farm Drive and Grand Bend Road, 9:20 p.m., March 17. Man robbed wallet, cell phone and cash. Juvenile arrested. Edmondson Avenue, 800 block, between 7:30 a.m. and 3:14 p.m., March 15. Cash stolen from residence.

The following is compiled from police reports from the Cockeysville Precinct. Our policy is to include descriptions only when there is enough information to make identification possible. Parkton York Road , 19300 block, at 12:48 a.m. Oct. 18. Cash stolen from safe at Park Inn. Entry by breaking back door. Phoenix Manda Mill Lane , 13700 block, between Oct. 11 and Oct. 14. Safe pried open and jewelry stolen. Unknown means of entry.

Walking through a giant hall in the Baltimore Convention Center, Susan Johnson and Sherry Mills stopped to admire a bronze-and-steel sculpture with water cascading out of it. "I need this," Mills said. "You may want to come around this side first," Johnson said, nodding at a sticker announcing the water feature's $18,000 price. The sculpture by San Francisco artist Michael Szabo was among the many pricey items at the American Craft Council show this weekend. Others among the 650 crafts people at the event were showing high-end jewelry, paintings, furniture and glassware, with prices reaching into the tens of thousands of dollars.

- Federal regulators are recalling more children's jewelry because of high levels of the toxic metal cadmium. This time it's charm bracelets with a "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" theme sold at dollar-type stores. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says the items should immediately be taken away from children and thrown away. Cadmium emerged as a major safety concern this year after an Associated Press investigation reported that some children's jewelry contained as much as 91 percent of the heavy metal, a carcinogen that also can damage kidneys and bones.

Baltimore health officials ordered an Edmondson Avenue business to stop selling children's jewelry found to contain lead levels exceeding limits set by the city. The jewelry includes the "Neon Leaf Anklet Chain," and the "Neon Heart Anklet Chain" sold at JH Dollar & Party at 4618 Edmondson Ave. Both were found to have lead levels in excess of 600 parts per million, which is the city limit. For more information about the items and the city's campaign against lead in jewelry, visit baltimorehealth.

Kenneth Jay Lane has long been known as jeweler to the stars, having designed pieces for Jackie O, Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. Now he's venturing into new territory, creating his own Home Gift Collection of jewelry-inspired frames, napkin rings, votive candle holders, place-card holders and boxes, all available to the public. Pictured above, center, is the Elaborate Pave Frame With Carved Stone, which fits a 3 1/2 -by-5-inch photo and retails for $300. Animals and other critters feature prominently in his jewelry as well as in this collection.

The following is compiled from police reports from the Cockeysville Precinct. Our policy is to include descriptions only when there is enough information to make identification possible. Parkton Cameron Ridge Court, 600 block, between 11:30 a.m. and 6:55 p.m. Nov. 21. Jewelry stolen from bedroom. Ladder stolen from neighbor then used to access second-floor bedroom. Kitzbuhel Road , unit block, between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Nov. 22. Front door kicked in. Nothing taken.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Jewelry stores are doing a bustling business in Saddam City, the sprawling, poor section where 1.5 million Baghdad residents live. But the jewelers are not making many sales.Women are selling their jewelry -- items from their dowries or gifts from their husbands, a family's life savings in a place where people do not have bank accounts -- to raise cash to buy food and other goods.This is Iraq today, a country trying to cope with a changed economy, with fears of attack from abroad and of civil unrest within, and with the aftermath of a decade of almost continuous war.Even as President Bush vowed recently that the United States would not permit the "suffering of innocent women and children" in war-ravaged Iraq, prices of flour, rice and sugar have doubled in recent weeks as Iraqis have stocked up out of fear that renewed U.S. air attacks are coming.

The following is compiled from local police reports. Our policy is to include descriptions when there is enough information to make identification possible. If you have any information about these crimes, call the Wilkens Police Station at 410-887-0872. Bell Avenue, 1900 block, between Feb. 8, 6:30 p.m., and Feb. 9, 1 p.m. Lock removed from shed and property stolen. Brady Avenue, 1900 block, between Feb. 7, 11 p.m., and Feb. 8, 9 p.m. Shed hasp cut and generator, leaf blower and air compressor stolen.

Aberdeen Aberdeen police reports: Something was broken in the power wash at the Shell gas station in the 1000 block of Middleton Road on Tuesday. A crowd was throwing things and yelling on the overpass, as reported by people from the Exxon station in the first block of North Philadelphia Boulevard on Tuesday. A purse was stolen Wednesday at Domino's in the 300 block of South Philadelphia Boulevard. A theft was reported at Walmart on Wednesday. Maryland State Police and Sheriff's Office reports: Anthony Lawrence, 25, of the 300 block of Farm Lane, was charged Tuesday with second-degree assault.

The following is compiled from local police reports. Our policy is to include descriptions when there is enough information to make identification possible. If you have any information about these crimes, call the Wilkens Police Station at 410-887-0872. Baltimore National Pike, 6600 block, Jan. 19, 8:09 p.m. Two men approached man, implied they had a gun, beat him and stole his wallet, credit cards and cash. One man arrested and charged with armed robbery. Baltimore National Pike, 5600 block, Jan. 18, 8:55 p.m. Two women approached woman, demanded her wallet and punched her in the face.

An Ellicott City man was arrested Friday in connection with a string of Christmastime burglaries, Howard County police said. Kenneth William Vollmerhausen, 28, of the 8500 block of High Ridge Road, had been on probation after pleading guilty on Dec. 4 to a Carroll County first-degree burglary when he allegedly broke into several Howard County homes between Dec. 17 and Thursday and stole jewelry, police said. Vollmerhausen is awaiting trial after having been indicted in Howard County Circuit Court for two first-degree burglaries last April.

Baltimore County Police say a man broke the glass door of the Exxon gas station on Goucher Boulevard with a rock last week and stole items inside. The incident occurred between 12:32 and 1:02 a.m. Dec. 7 at the station, in the 800 block of Goucher Boulevard. According to the report, after breaking the glass door, the man tried unsuccessfully to break into cash register, then stole food, candy and a pocket knife. In addition to this item, the following incidents were compiled from police reports from the Towson and Cockeysville precincts.

A Baltimore retailer has been ordered by city health officials to stop selling a children's ring, necklace and earrings because the items contain dangerous levels of lead. The Baltimore City Health Department said Tuesday it has issued a nuisance order to Choice Corner on West Lexington St. telling the owners to remove the  jewelry from its shelves because of lead levels above 100 parts per million.  The levels are 900 to 2,400 times what is legally allowed. The products pose a danger to children's health because the lead levels can cause cognitive impairment and neurological problems.

A 21-year-old Baltimore man who participated in the armed robbery of jewelry stores in Baltimore and Columbia in 2010 and 2011 was sentenced on Thursday to more than 13 years in prison, according to the Maryland U.S. attorney's office. Deontaye Harvey, of West Baltimore, will also have to pay thousands of dollars in restitution to the jewelry stores he robbed at Mondawmin Mall and the Mall in Columbia, prosecutors said. In the first incident, on Sept. 19, 2010, Harvey entered Elite Gold & Diamonds at the Mondawmin Mall with an unidentified man, took out a gun and said, "Give us what you got," to an employee, prosecutors said.

The following is compiled from police reports from the Cockeysville Precinct. Our policy is to include descriptions only when there is enough information to make identification possible. Parkton York Road , 19300 block, at 12:48 a.m. Oct. 18. Cash stolen from safe at Park Inn. Entry by breaking back door. Phoenix Manda Mill Lane , 13700 block, between Oct. 11 and Oct. 14. Safe pried open and jewelry stolen. Unknown means of entry.