CNN
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Gems and jewelry really worth millions of pounds ended up stolen from an armored truck parked at a rest halt in close proximity to Los Angeles, officials mentioned, placing off a multi-company investigation.
The heist unfolded among 2 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. July 11 at a Flying J rest quit and gas station in close proximity to Lebec, California, about 80 miles north of Los Angeles, the LA County Sheriff’s Office mentioned in a assertion.
A tractor trailer operated by Brinks was transporting the substantial-value goods from a jewelry display in San Mateo to another clearly show in Pasadena, in accordance to Arnold Duke, head of the Intercontinental Gem & Jewellery Demonstrate.
“I’ve been undertaking this professionally for 45 years and hardly ever have we had everything remotely near to this,” Duke instructed CNN.
Sixteen merchants were affected in the theft of 20 huge footlockers that weigh about 100 lbs each and every, Duke mentioned. The lockers held gemstones, Rolex watches and hundreds of unfastened diamonds, some of which had been priced near to $500,000 each individual wholesale. Some personalized, a single-of-a-variety concluded pieces were being also stolen from the truck, Duke included.
“The sheer amount of gems and jewelry would not healthy in a single car or truck,” Duke mentioned. “It’s a staggering sum of jewelry and for it to be left alone is unconscionable.”
Some of the smaller merchants concerned lost about $700,000 in products, even though larger corporations missing merchandise valued at up to $12 million, according to estimates from Duke.
But Brinks said the insurance figures really don’t indicate a decline just about that high.
“According to the facts the customers furnished to us prior to they delivered their objects, the overall benefit of the lacking things is a lot less than $10 million. We are functioning with regulation enforcement and we will totally reimburse our customers for the worth of their property that were stolen, in accordance with the phrases of our contract,” Brinks advised CNN in a statement.
Duke explained many jewelers really do not insure what they are transport at whole worth as the cost of the insurance policies can be very high, and they depend on the protection safeguards taken by Brinks vehicles and their motorists.
“Many merchants know a large amount of the motorists on a first title basis,” explained Duke.
Just one service provider informed CNN 30 a long time of his life’s perform was stolen in the heist. He did not share his identify nor the name of his businesses with CNN in excess of considerations of remaining qualified once more.
He expressed that he was “emotional” and “speechless” and wants “Brink’s to answer” to him right after shedding some collectables and special items in the theft.
The FBI is aiding the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in the ongoing criminal investigation into the theft. No suspects were discovered as of Tuesday.
Duke mentioned shared with federal authorities videotapes of men and women attending the jewelry exhibits in hopes of finding a direct on suspicious actions. He observed that the Rolex watches and quite a few of the diamonds have serial numbers that can make them quickly traceable if uncovered.
Correction: An previously version of this tale gave the wrong day for the theft. It was July 11.
