[ad_1]
At least four formed robber crew members escaped with an estimated $1.5 million in gold and diamonds after violating the roof of an El Monte family-owned jewelry store.
The thief got on the roof and came down from the ceiling on a Saturday night at a mezza jewel on Main Street and spent eight hours in the store before leaving the door with a suitcase full of precious valuables.
One of the items they operated in was the store’s internal surveillance system, which contains video evidence of intrusions. However, the exterior camera filmed a hooded thief walking away from the scene.
The shop co-owner, Rossanna Meza, later discovered it.
“I saw everything taken away, everything was gone,” she told KTLA’s Sandra Mitchell. “It’s all our savings, our lives are quick. We’re working so hard, all of a sudden, nothing.”
The owner of the store was previously targeted by burglars.
In September 2023, surveillance cameras captured a violent struggle between the family and the suspect in an attempted smash and grab.
The wild footage shows the whole family struggling with a big man hard after facing a 70-year-old family member spraying bear repellent and trying to crush the display case. Eventually, the suspect was seen running away empty-handed shirtless, trying to maintain his pants.
The thief violated the roof on June 28, 2025, and was able to access El Monte’s jewelry store by passing through the store’s ceiling. (Viewer Image) The thief violated the roof on June 28, 2025, and was able to access El Monte’s jewelry store by passing through the store’s ceiling.
The latest robbery, perhaps done by professional burglars, is right after two other high-value heist.
Two brothers reported deaths from a California highway were overlooked.
During the break-in June 1st, millions of dollars worth of goods were collected from Afghan Lapis Jewelry in Encino. In late May, Simi Valley’s five-star jewel & Watch Repair violated the roof of an adjacent business and lost everything after a robber crew entered the shop after excavating adjacent walls. At about the same time, the gem of Biddlesia in Glendale suffered a similar fate.
In each of the robbers, police said the burglars were armed with sophisticated gear, such as blow torches, power tools and electronics, which are used to thwart the security system.
“They were ready. They also had tools and stuff to disrupt the alarm,” Rosana said of the Meza’s intrusion on Saturday night. “They were experts. They know what they’re doing.”
[ad_2]Source link
