Millions in jewels stolen from armored truck in California

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tens of millions of {dollars} value of gems and jewellery had been stolen in an armored truck theft final week in Southern California, authorities mentioned Sunday.

The Brink’s truck was robbed within the early morning on July 11 close to Los Angeles, mentioned Dana Callahan, a spokeswoman for the safety firm.

The merchandise had been loaded onto the truck late on July 10 following an exhibit hosted by the Worldwide Gem and Jewellery Present in San Mateo, south of San Francisco, mentioned Brandy Swanson, the group’s director. It was going to an occasion on the Pasadena Conference Middle simply northeast of Los Angeles, she mentioned.

Swanson mentioned between 25 and 30 luggage had been taken, containing an unknown variety of particular person items. She mentioned 18 victims had been reporting greater than $100 million in losses. Callahan mentioned it was lower than $10 million.

“In accordance with the data the purchasers supplied to us earlier than they shipped their objects, the entire worth of the lacking objects is lower than $10 million,” Brink’s mentioned in an announcement. “We’re working with regulation enforcement, and we are going to totally reimburse our prospects for the worth of their belongings that had been stolen, in accordance with the phrases of our contract.”

Laura Eimiller, spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Los Angeles, mentioned the theft was within the desert metropolis of Lancaster in northern LA County. Eimiller mentioned the bureau company was working with native authorities, however she couldn’t instantly present extra data.

A dispatcher with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division, which patrols Lancaster, did not have details about the investigation on Sunday.

Swanson mentioned distributors who journey between jewellery exhibits sometimes underinsure their merchandise as a result of they can not afford to insure it totally.

“That is the place the discrepancy is available in. These are mom-and-pop operators,” Swanson mentioned. “They’re devastated. A few of these individuals have misplaced their total livelihoods.”

The Worldwide Gem and Jewellery present hosts about 45 exhibits nationwide per yr, she mentioned.

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