A group of suspects broke into two Simi Valley businesses overnight, stealing $2 million in cash and merchandise from a jewelry store, as shown on surveillance camera footage.
According to Ted Mackel, owner of Dr. Conkey’s Candy & Coffee, it occurred over the weekend at around midnight on Sunday near the 2800 block of Cochran Street. The suspects entered the jewelry business next door through his shop.
He claims that they slid across the floor toward some shelves after entering the building through the door and through the ceiling over the restroom behind his company.
In that footage, they can be seen drilling through the wall and straight into 5 Star Jewelry and Repair’s safe.
“These guys were professional thieves. They had a plan, they must’ve cased us.” Jonathan Youssef, who owns the affected store with his father Jacob, stated.
They initially believed that nothing had been taken from their company, but when they opened the safe, they discovered that they had been attacked before the suspect had even entered.
They stole every expensive watch, piece of gold jewelry, and numerous other priceless items from the store.
“So, they cut through her wall into my safe and stole everything that me and my dad have accumulated for our business over the past 25 years,” Youssef stated. “The worst part about the loss of property that we had was the customers that we built up over that same period. Trust us with their heirloom jewelry to repair and unfortunately, some of that jewelry, all of that jewelry, was stolen.”
Jewelry worth an estimated $2 million was stolen. They are attempting to obtain loans in order to duplicate the stolen heirloom pieces and replace the stolen gold.
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In addition to the tangible items, Mackel and Youssef claim that during the four hours the burglars were active, they had another item stolen.
“Was enough for them to drill through and take everything that we have, including my dad’s retirement, including my future. Every single thing that we had,” Youssef stated.
“These are the people, the families you go to church with, the families that your kids are in school with, run all these businesses and when things like this happen, it’s devastating,” Mackel stated. “It’s absolutely devastating.”
Investigators have not yet made any arrest announcements or provided a description of the suspects.
