RALEIGH, N.C. — Raleigh police have arrested an employee of a jewelry store on charges of stealing nearly $500,000 worth of jewelry.

Hassan Abdisalam Hassan, 30, of Raleigh, who worked at the jewelry counter in Lord & Taylor at Crabtree Valley Mall, was arrested Friday.

According to reports, Hassan was to receive a shipment of jewelry worth $495,667 for the store back on Jan. 15. But police say Hassan kept the items for himself instead.

At the time of the incident, Hassan was an employee of Finlay Fine Jewelry, an independent company that leases counter space from department stores nationwide.

Hassan is being held on felony charges of embezzlement in lieu of a $500,000 bail. He previously had been charhed with driving while intoxicated and driving without a license and registration.

According to Crabtree Valley spokeswoman Christy Alphin, mall police began an investigation into the incident several weeks ago.