Facebook pictures lead to stolen ring

BURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Police in Vermont said a man was arrested for stealing an engagement ring after his fiancee posted pictures of the item on Facebook.

Burlington police said three people contacted police Tuesday to report seeing a ring matching the description of the one taken Monday from Zales Jewelry on Church Street in photographs on Amber Lafountain's Facebook page, the Burlington Free Press reported Thursday.

Lafountain said the ring was given to her by fiance Ryan Jarvis, 25, who admitted to police he ran off with the $3,199 ring Monday after determining he would not be able to afford it.

"He reported that he considered financing options, but concluded that he would be unable to afford the ring he wanted," Officer Jesse Stewart wrote in a sworn affidavit. "He reported that he then ran out of the store with the ring. He advised he knew it was a stupid thing to do."

Jarvis pleaded not guilty Wednesday to one felony count of retail theft.