Thieves in California stole millions of dollars’ worth of jewelry and gemstones after breaking into an unattended security vehicle on its way back from a jewelry show, police said.
The robbery took place in a remote rest stop in southern California last week, authorities said on Monday, after the vehicle’s two armed guards walked away.
The tractor-trailer, which belongs to the security company Brinks, had been traveling overnight from a jewelry show in the San Francisco Bay area down to the Los Angeles region for another event. It was not immediately clear whether the suspects followed the vehicle along its 375 mile (604 km) journey or stumbled across it at the rest stop in a crime of opportunity, according to Michael Mileski, the Los Angeles sheriff’s sergeant.
The guards reported the heist at about 2am on 11 July after they noticed that the trailer’s lock had been tampered with, Mileski said. Investigators are trying to determine how the lock was broken.
It was not immediately clear how long the guards had left the vehicle unattended at the Flying J gas station and truck stop in the unincorporated community of Lebec, about 75 miles (121 km) north of downtown Los Angeles.
The merchandise had been loaded on to the truck late on 10 July after an exhibit hosted by the International Gem and Jewelry Show in San Mateo, south of San Francisco, said Brandy Swanson, the group’s director. It was going to an event at the Pasadena convention center just north-east of Los Angeles, she said.
While Swanson said 18 victims were reporting more than $100m in losses, Brinks said the stolen items were worth less than $10m.
“According to the information the customers provided to us before they shipped their items, the total value of the missing items is less than $10m,” Brinks said in a statement. “We are working with law enforcement, and we will fully reimburse our customers for the value of their assets that were stolen, in accordance with the terms of our contract.”
Brinks and the International Gem and Jewelry Show representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday afternoon.
Swanson said vendors who travel between jewelry shows typically underinsure their merchandise because they can’t afford to insure it fully.
“That’s where the discrepancy comes in. These are mom-and-pop operators,” Swanson said. “They’re devastated. Some of these people have lost their entire livelihoods.”
Mileski said detectives are estimating the theft at $10m, based on the insurance, but they expect the amount to climb. Investigators are reviewing video footage from local businesses to see if the crime was recorded. The sergeant said multiple suspects are believed to have executed the heist.
