A $3 million jewelry store heist in Ventura County led to the arrest of four members of a burglary squad.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office identified the suspects, who were all Chilean nationals, as follows:
- Heidy Nickolt Trujillo, 25
- Camilo Antonio Aguliar Lara, 31
- Sergio Andres Meji-Machuca, 27
- Manuel David Ibarra, 37
The burglary squad is suspected of a plot that started in May and targeted the family-run business 5 Star Jewelry & Watch repair on Cochran Street in Simi Valley.
Two individuals conducted surveillance and looked through the front window of the white Volvo SUV that three suspects were driving when they arrived at the store on May 20.
They went into the adjacent Dr. Conkey’s Candy and Coffee store to see whether there were any security cameras there. Allegedly, they also examined the walls next to the jewelry store.
The crew carried a ladder and rope with them when they returned to the shopping complex on May 25. Authorities claimed that while the robbers sliced through the ceiling to enter, the ladder was positioned against the outside of the coffee shop.
To gain access to the store’s safe, they bored a hole in the wall that separated the jewelry and coffee shops. In order to hide the break-in, one suspect also spray-painted a security camera.
Prosecutors claimed that the group stole more than $3 million worth of jewels, watches, cash, and valuables when they stormed the jewelry store. They took the stolen jewelry to a residence in L.A. County and left the region.
The family that owned the store had been crushed by the expensive burglary. According to owner Jonathan Youssef, his father started the company from the bottom up 25 years ago with the intention of retiring soon before they lost everything they possessed.
The four suspects were taken into custody on June 10. According to reports, some of them were discovered wearing the pilfered goods.
They also found a stolen gun. Two counts of conspiracy to commit commercial burglary and two counts of conspiracy to receive stolen property were brought against them.
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During a press conference on June 13, Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko stated that These were not teenagers breaking into a local business to get quick cash.
They were highly skilled and advanced professionals who broke through a roof, tunneled into a wall, and broke into a safe to steal millions of dollars’ worth of watches, jewelry, cash, and other items using power tools, rope, a collapsible ladder, and counter-surveillance measures.
Although no additional information was given regarding those occurrences, authorities stated that there might be more cases linked to the group.
The bail amount for all four accused is $100,000. They may spend six to nine years behind bars if found guilty as charged.
On June 23, they are due in Ventura County Superior Court for an early disposition conference. The date of the preliminary hearing is June 26.
