TL/DR –
Thieves stole $800,000 worth of diamonds, gold, and cash from Desiré Jewelry in Glendora, California. The burglars broke into the store on May 15, disabled its alarm system and surveillance cameras, and spent six hours cutting into the store’s safes. Investigations are ongoing, with police examining evidence such as blood left at the scene, and the owner has also hired a private detective.
San Gabriel Valley Jewelry Store Heist
Thieves managed to break into a heavily fortified jewelry store in San Gabriel Valley, making off with approximately $800,000 worth of diamonds, gold, and cash.
Occurring in the late hours of May 15, a group of burglars infiltrated Desiré Jewelry in Glendora. They disabled the store’s alarm system and surveillance cameras, brought in heavy drilling equipment, and spent six hours breaking into the store’s safes.
Owner Monir Kassis discovered the burglary on May 18, realizing the thieves entered his shop on Glendora Avenue through the roof and made off with his entire inventory.
“There’s a big bag of diamonds, about 600 carats of diamonds in that bag,” Kassis said, “and a lot of gold chains, a lot of gold for repair.”
Surveillance cameras were able to record the noises of the thieves bringing in their tools, such as gas-powered torches and drills. “You start hearing drilling and very loud noise,” Kassis recounted.
Two of the thieves were recorded on camera, but identification has thus far remained difficult.
The sound of the thieves working alerted the owner to start his exit. “I saw two guys, one who poked his head [out] from the door and the other one banging on the window to alert them that it’s time to leave,” he added.
The jewelry was kept in three steel safes, two of which were breached by the thieves. “They cut a hole and just grabbed everything from there,” Kassis explained.
The Glendora Police Department is investigating the case, considering leads that include blood left on one of the safes. Kassis has also enlisted a private detective who has told KTLA that the burglary seems to be a sophisticated operation.
If you have any information about this incident, please contact the Glendora Police Department at 626-914-8250.
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