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Security footage shot inside the strip mall showed three male suspects cases in a Simi Valley jewelry store just days before the robbery of more than $3 million in jewellery and other valuables last month.
The man inspected ceiling access, potential camera angles, sat by a shared wall separating five-star jewelry and watch repairs and an adjacent candy shop on May 20th, authorities claim.
One of the suspects imitated spray painting on security cameras, authorities alleged.
Five days later, the suspect broke into an adjacent sweet shop overnight from the roof, ran through it using ladders and ropes, smeared black through the surveillance cameras, drilled holes in the walls, and was bored with £5,000 to acquire gems, bullion, cash and heirlooms with gems, bullion, cash, heirlooms belonging to the jewelry store’s customers.
According to Simi Valley Police, the security footage was important in arresting four Chilean citizens over links to the international theft ring. The suspect was charged with four felony, in the Ventura County District. Atty. Eric Nasalenko made the announcement Friday morning at a press conference in front of a jewellery and repair shop.
Manuel Ibarra, 38, Camilo Lala, 32, Sergio Mezia Machuca, 27 and 26, Heidi Trujiro, ages 20, are charged with two conspiracies to receive the stolen property and two conspiracies to commit commercial burglaries.
Nasarenko added that the crime has made additional enhancements as the robbers withdraw more than $3 million. He added that if the defendant is convicted in all cases, he can spend six to nine years in state prisons.
All four defendants entered a plea of innocence Thursday and are in custody on $100,000 bail. The group is scheduled to return to court on June 23rd. Representatives from the Ventura County Public Defense Office were unable to comment on behalf of the accused.
Nasarenko thanked Simi Valley police for asking the accused to investigate, arrest and claim the accused within a short period of time.
“This happened within three weeks of the date of the suspicious crime, bringing a measure of accountability and justice to the city of Simi Valley and the independent small businesses that make it a very close and supportive community,” he said.
Jewelry store owner Jonathan Youssef described the arrest as “bittersweet.”
“It’s nice that they’re off the streets, but we haven’t gotten much of it back,” he told The Times.
Simi Valley Police Chief Steve Shorts said officers had recovered about $600,000 in stolen property and jewelry, including a match against five-star inventory. He added that more than $20,000 in cash was also recovered.
The intrusion was reported on an anniversary. Simi Valley police received a call from Jonathan and his father, Jacob Yousef, at 6:33am.
At the time, Jonathan estimated that his store lost between $2 million and $2.5 million in cash and $2.5 million in cash and $2.5 million in stock – gold bullion, silver bars, white gold and platinum pieces, multiple high-end watches and center stone diamond engagement rings.
Shorts confirmed that the recovered watches fit the 5-star stock of Rolex, Tag Heuer and Omega watches.
Most of the stolen inventory consisted of approximately 100 pieces of jewelry from nearby clients who had been repaired or restored by Youssefs.
Jonathan said he knows some of the recovered items.
He said the thief was “really fast” to take down the jewels.
“My dad and I are melancholic,” Jonathan said. “In the end, these criminals are getting years of prison time to ruin the lives of so many people and to damage many people forever. That’s a slap on the wrist.”
Jonathan said he appreciates the fundraising and online campaigns from many communities that helped him recover some of the losses.
Outside the valuables have been recovered, Shorts said detectives discovered commercial robbery tools and gem testing equipment during the suspect’s arrest.
He also said police found a firearm taken from another pawn shop robber in Los Angeles.
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