Burglars tunneled through a concrete wall to carry out a major heist at a jewelry store in downtown Los Angeles, stealing at least $10 million worth of valuables, police confirmed Tuesday.
The break-in occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday at Love Jewels, located on Broadway, according to Los Angeles Police Department Officer David Cuellar.
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed the suspects entering the store through a large hole they had drilled from a neighboring property. “They tunneled through multiple levels of concrete into the target location,” Cuellar said.
After collecting the stolen goods, the suspects reportedly fled through the same hole. They left the scene in a late-model Chevrolet truck. Authorities have not disclosed how many individuals were involved.
The theft went unnoticed until employees arrived on Monday morning to find the store ransacked. Cuellar said the initial estimate of losses was around $10 million, though that figure may change as the investigation continues.
The store owner, however, placed the loss closer to $20 million and told police the business did not have insurance coverage.
No alarms were triggered during the heist, and the store’s security camera feed was cut off during the break-in.
On Tuesday, workers at the store were seen placing a metal plate over the hole in the wall and cleaning up the damage. Display cases had been overturned and boxes were left scattered. Two large safes had been forced open, and all the store’s inventory was reportedly taken.
Despite the setback, several customers and friends of the store stopped by to offer their support. Some even asked if they could still buy items.
According to the store’s website, Love Jewels sells a variety of gold jewelry, including a 14-karat yellow gold rope chain for $1,200, heart-shaped earrings for $200, and a gold cross pendant for $550. Videos posted on the store’s social media accounts showed display cases filled with rings, watches, and necklaces.
Police said detectives are examining the scene for fingerprints and DNA evidence as they continue their investigation.
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