US: 'Diamond Diva' jewellery thief Abigail Kemp wanted in four states is finally arrested

The FBI has arrested a woman who was wanted in connection with a string of heists from jewellery stores across four southeastern American states. Abigail Lee Kemp, 24, was dubbed the 'Diamond Diva' and was wanted for robberies at jewellery shops in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee dating back to April 2015.

Kemp was taken into custody on Friday 8 January in the Atlanta suburb of Smyrna. The most recent robbery linked to Kemp was on Monday 4 January in North Carolina, the FBI said.

During the latest incident, two employees at the Jared Vault jewellers in North Carolina were held at gunpoint, had their hands bound and forced into a back room while she is said to have put items into a shopping bag before escaping.

Police had previously released several CCTV images of the female suspect. They said that Kemp and an accomplice seen with her at the time of the robberies had got away with millions of dollars of worth of diamonds and watches. One of the tactics police said she employed was to ask to see a piece of jewellery and when they pull it out of the case she revealed a gun and told them to get in the back room of the stores.

Media dubbed her the "Diamond Diva" after images of her emerged wearing skin-tight leggings. In another CCTV image a woman wearing shorts and a tank top was filmed stealing from a jewellers in Panama City, Florida.

Along with Kemp, a second suspect was also taken into custody. The individual's identity was not released.

The FBI previously said a man, believed to be in his 30s or 40s, was wanted in connection with the robberies.

"Within hours of issuing a press release this week requesting assistance in identifying the suspects, the FBI Jacksonville Division began to receive numerous credible leads from the public," the FBI said in a statement.

Kemp is expected to be formally indicted at an Atlanta court on Monday 11 January.