The ABC television station in Houston recently reported that Triplett’s Jewelry store was broken into and dozens of gold rings taken. The rings were on display in a street-front window and in display cases inside the store.

A detective tells Mr. Triplett that many jewelers store gold rings in the store’s safe overnight. Mr. Triplett nods in agreement but doesn’t seem too disturbed.

"People stop and look at my rings in the window late at night," Triplett says, "it makes for good merchandising." The detective grunts disapprovingly at Triplett’s idea of doing business.

After crime-scene photos are taken and fingerprints lifted, the detective sits down in a back room with the jeweler. "Can you give me the number of rings stolen?"

Triplett looks at his books for a moment than says, "Somewhere between 60 and 65 rings."

"And what do you estimate the value of those rings?"

Triplett answers, "I can’t be exactly certain but my loss would be no greater than 25 cents for each ring."

The detective puts down his pen and looks up. "I’m trying to be serious here. Now give me the estimated value of the stolen gold rings."

Triplett laughs, "Hold on a minute, detective, the value is exactly what I said it was -- less than 25 cents for each ring!"

Before the detective can recover from his shock, Triplett goes on to explain, "Those were base-metal rings made to look like real gold rings. I use them only for display purposes because of the risk of theft. The real gold rings are locked up in my safe. The greatest expense will be in replacing the plate glass window and a dozen shattered display cases."

The detective mulls over that information for a moment then smiles and says, "Wouldn’t you love to have a front row seat when the burglar tries to sell those rings?"