Jewelry with an estimated value of more than $40,000 was stolen from a Maple City home Friday afternoon.

Deputies are investigating a breaking and entering at the home of Elizabeth Saile on 8808 S. Maple City Rd.

According to police reports, a suspect entered the unlocked home between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. Friday and took jewelry valued at more than $40,000.

“No one was at home at the time of the incident,” Undersheriff Scott Wooters said. “Items were taken from a dresser, but most was from a small box located in a closet.”

Items taken include a man’s diamond watch valued at $10,000, a diamond ring with an estimated value of $8,500, and numerous chains, bracelets and rings with gemstones. Some of the stolen items were designed and made by Saile, who is a jeweler.

“A lot are gifts that my father and mother had given me … a 35th and 40th birthday present. Thirty-seven years of sentimentality,” said Saile.

Saile worked for 27 years at Martinek’s Jewelers in Traverse City. She opened her own business, L. Saile Designer Jewelry in Cedar, nearly two years ago and sells handcrafted, one-of-a-kind pieces along with art and home decor.

“I never thought this could happen,” Saile said.

In an unscientific Enterprise online reader’s poll taken this month, 55 percent of 69 respondents indicated that they don’t always lock the door to their homes. Twenty-nine percent said they “sometimes” lock their doors, depending on the time of year. Another 26 percent said they never lock their home and also leave vehicle keys in their car or truck. The poll was posted on the Enterprise website from Feb. 6-13.

Anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity near the home Friday afternoon or with any information is asked to call the county Sheriff’s Department confidential tip line at 256-8696.