Handcuffs

Los Angeles, CA- 7 SoCal men charged in $100M Brinks truck heist in Lebec, largest jewelry heist in US history.

by Armed RobberyArrestsCrime SuspectsCrimesDaily Blog

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Seven Southern California men have been charged in connection with the theft of millions of dollars’ worth of jewelry from a Brink’s semi-truck that was headed to Pasadena in 2022, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday.

Stolen were $100 million worth of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds and luxury watches, in what is considered by the DOJ to be the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history.

The DOJ said the following seven suspects have been charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit theft from interstate and foreign shipment and theft from interstate and foreign shipment:

  1. Carlos Victor Mestanza Cercado, 31, of Pasadena
  2. Jazael Padilla Resto, a.k.a. “Ricardo Noel Moya,” “Ricardo Barbosa,” and “Alberto Javier Loza Chamorro,” 36, of Boyle Heights and currently an inmate in Arizona state prison
  3. Pablo Raul Lugo Larroig, a.k.a. “Walter Loza,” 41, of Rialto
  4. Victor Hugo Valencia Solorzano, 60, of the Rampart Village neighborhood of Los Angeles
  5. Jorge Enrique Alban, 33, of South Los Angeles
  6. Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores, 42, of Upland
  7. Eduardo Macias Ibarra, 36, of the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Two of the suspects were expected to appear in federal court in Los Angeles on Tuesday to face charges.

Mestanza, Padilla, Lugo, Valencia, and Alban are also charged with two counts of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), as well as additional counts of theft from interstate and foreign shipment, according to the Department of Justice.

On July 10, 2022, several of the suspects scouted the Brinks truck leaving an international jewelry show in San Mateo, California with 73 bags containing millions of dollars of jewely, the DOJ said. The suspects then followed the truck for about 300 miles to Lebec. While the truck was stopped there, authorities said Mestanza, Padilla, Lugo, Valencia, Presilla, Macias, and other co-conspirators stole 24 bags from the Brinks truck.

The DOJ said Mestanza, Padilla, Lugo, and Valencia are also alleged to have stolen $240,573 worth of Samsung electronics from an interstate cargo shipment in Ontario on March 2, 2022. Those same suspects, and Alban, allegedly then robbed a box truck driver of $57,377 worth of Apple AirTags.

Then, on May 25, 2022, the suspects allegedly attempted to steal from one truck at a Fontana rest stop using a crowbar to break in, the DOJ said. Shortly after, the same defendants successfully stole approximately $14,081 worth of Samsung electronics from another interstate shipment in Fontana, according to officials.

If convicted, Mestanza, Padilla, Lugo, Valencia, and Alban would face maximum sentences of 20 years in federal prison for each robbery charge, and all defendants would face a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for the theft conspiracy charge and 10 years in federal prison for each theft charge.

To view the article provided by ABC 7 News, click HERE.

police tape

Woodland Hills, CA- Jewelry store falls victim to early-morning burglary.

by BurglaryCrimesDaily Blog

Woodland Hills, CA- A jewelry store in Woodland Hills was burglarized by multiple suspects early Tuesday morning, according to police.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that officers responded to Jean Pierre Jewelers, located in the 21000 block of Ventura Boulevard, for a burglary call at 3:28 a.m.

“The reporting party stated three male suspects were burglarizing the business,” a department spokesperson said.

The suspects had fled the area by the time police arrived. One officer was seen removing a crowbar and a power tool from the premises while other officers searched the business for clues.

Video from the scene taken by KTLA photojournalist Dan Lunsford shows a hole in the ceiling of the adjacent business, a gym, although it is not known if it was already there before the incident. Reports of the burglars entering the jewelry store through the gym were unable to be verified by the LAPD.

No descriptions of the suspects were available. It was not immediately clear if anything was taken from the store.

To view the article provided by KTLA 5 and CBS news, click HERE.

If you have any information regarding this incident or information on these criminals, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.

NJ

ROCKAWAY, NEW JERSEY – GRAB AND RUN

by Crime SuspectsCrimesDaily BlogGrab and Run

Rockaway, NJ – On June 14, 2014, a jewelry store reported that a grab and run theft occurred. Two male suspects were looking at rings. The suspects spent some time comparing a few and requested to take a picture of two together. Once both rings were accessible the suspects said something in Spanish, grabbed them both and fled out into the mall. The younger male left his cell phone on the showcase. Rockaway Township Police responded to take a report and seized the cell phone. There were no injuries.

Suspect(s) Description: Suspect 1: Hispanic male, 35-40, 5-8”, medium build, black ball cap, black jacket, black jogging pants with white stripes, all black sneakers, dark medium length hair, some facial hair.

Suspect (s) Description: Suspect 2: Hispanic male, 25-30, 5-10”, slim build, black ball cap, black pullover shirt with white t-shirt underneath, well groomed full black beard, black pants and blk/wht Nike sneakers.

If you have any information regarding this incident or information on these criminals, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.

reeds

North Charleston, SC- Jewelry store heist halted when off-duty deputy slams into suspect, SC cops say.

by ArrestsCrime SuspectsCrimesDaily BlogGrab and RunUncategorized

N. Charleston, SC – Shopping turned dangerous for an off-duty sheriff’s deputy when he confronted a jewelry store robbery suspect, according to investigators in South Carolina. The takedown happened Tuesday, June 10, in North Charleston, the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office said in a June 11 news release. “Master Deputy Alexander McKinnon was shopping at REEDS Jewelers in Northwoods Mall when a man walked into another nearby store, Great American Jewelry, and asked the store clerk to see some jewelry. The man then grabbed the jewelry and took off running,” the sheriff’s office wrote on Facebook. “McKinnon quickly learned of the situation and chased the suspect, identifying himself as a Deputy Sheriff. The suspect then threatened McKinnon, saying he would have a ‘friend come to the location and shoot him.’ At that moment, McKinnon tackled the suspect.”

He held the suspect down until a North Charleston Police Department Officer showed up to make the arrest, officials said.

The identity of the suspect and details of the charges were not released. McKinnon’s also is a school resource officer for the Charleston County School District. His most recent post was at Mount Zion Elementary School, the sheriff’s office said. “McKinnon’s actions embody all that the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office stands for. As law enforcement professionals, we have the responsibility to serve and protect our community, whether we are in uniform or not,” Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie said in the release. North Charleston is about a 105-mile drive southeast from Columbia.

Article provided by The State news, click here to view the article.

GA

DUNWOODY, GA- GRAB AND RUN. REPEAT OFFENDER.

by Crime NewsCrime SuspectsCrimesDaily BlogGrab and Run

DUNWOODY, GA – On June 12, 2025, a jewelry store reported a grab and run theft. It was reported a lone male entered the store and asked to see gold chains. An employee took the suspect over to where the gold chains were and selected one for the suspect to look at. During the presentation of various chains, the employee failed to secure the showcase. The suspect reached in and grabbed 5 chains before fleeing the store without making payment. The employee sustained scratches during the incident as she attempted to close the showcase. Mall security was advised and a report filed with local police.

This suspect is being sought in a similar theft which occurred earlier in the day at an Alpharetta, GA jewelry store gold chains were stolen.

Suspect(s) Description: Black Male suspect in his late 30’s, approx. 6’ tall with a short, cropped beard and black hair tied in dreadlocks, into a ponytail. The suspect wore brown dress shoes, cream dress pants, white dress shirt under a cream-colored vest. He also wore a white hat with the word “Wave” on the front. No visible signs of tattoos, and the suspect wore earrings. He provided a name of “Frederick.”

If you have any information regarding these incidents or information on this criminal, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.

woodbridge

Woodbridge, NJ- Jewelry Store Robbed in Broad Daylight Saturday.

by Crime SuspectsCrimesDaily BlogSmash and Grab

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Virani Jewelers in the Iselin section of Woodbridge was robbed in broad daylight this past Saturday, Woodbridge Police confirmed.

The smash-and-grab robbery occurred at 12:40 p.m. Saturday, and the suspects were in and out of the store in less than a minute, said police. Four men entered the store, smashed jewelry cases and grabbed jewelry, and then ran off.

“The incident occurred at approximately 12:40 p.m. when four individuals entered the jewelry store located on Oak Tree Road,” said police. “The suspects used hammers to smash several display counters and took an undisclosed amount of jewelry. The entire robbery was over in approximately one minute.”

The four suspects, all men, sped off in a black SUV, which was driven by a fifth man. There is a video circulating on Facebook that shows the men, all wearing face coverings, run into the store and then run out.

Article from Carly Baldwin of Patch News via MSN. Click HERE to view article.

If you have any information regarding this incident or information on these criminals, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.

James allen

WASHINGTON, D.C.- GRAN AND RUN

by Crime SuspectsCrimesDaily BlogGrab and Run

Washington, D.C.– On June 5, 2025, at the Georgetown Mall, 2 male suspects entered a jewelry store under the pretense of shopping for bracelet jewelry. During the presentation, one of the suspects reached into a case and grabbed a diamond tennis bracelet while the employee was engaged with the other suspect. Both suspects then fled out of the store on foot in an unknown direction. Suspects may have been Middle Eastern as they said prior to the theft that they were from Saudi Arabia. The Washington DC Metro Police were called and responded to make a report. No injuries were reported during this incident

Suspect(s) Description:
Both suspects Male, middle eastern, were 5’5” to 5’7, wearing white shirts and dark shoes

If you have any information regarding this incident or information on these criminals, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.

fake ice agent

Philadelphia, PA- Fake ICE agent ‘screamed immigration before zip-tying woman’ in terrifying jewelry store robbery.

by Armed RobberyCrime NewsCrime SuspectsCrimesDaily Blog

Philadelphia, PA– Detectives are searching for a man who they said posed as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent at a Philadelphia repair shop last week when he tied up a woman and stole $1,000 from her. The man yelled “immigration” before tying up the woman for two hours and taking her money, according to police. He fled in a white Ford van, similar to the unmarked white vans used by real ICE agents during immigration raids. The woman, a US citizen who was born in the Dominican Republic, was found by a coworker. She said she suffered bruises to her arm while trying to fight off the imposter ICE agent.

Police say the man wore a long-sleeve shirt, green cargo pants, a black baseball cap with an American flag on it, sunglasses and a black tactical vest emblazoned with the words “Security Enforcement Agent.”
The woman said she could not see the man’s face because he turned it from her when she tried to get a look at him. The assault and robbery took place amid ongoing, nationwide fears among Americans in the wake of raids by ICE agents in unmarked vehicles and without visible identification on homes and businesses.

To view the entire article and additional photos provided by the Irish Star news, click here.

If you have any information regarding this incident or information on this criminal, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.

Capturemiss

GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI- GRAB AN RUN.

by Crime SuspectsDaily BlogGrab and Run

Gulfport, Mississippi, on May 29, 2025, at the Outlets of Gulfport, a jeweler was the victim of a grab and run theft. Two male suspects entered the store under the pretense of shopping for watches. Both males were greeted and assisted at the watch showcase. The first suspect, wearing the bucket hat, claimed he didn’t see a watch that interested him. He proceeded to the gold chain showcase and inquired about several gold chains. The suspects stated they were from Mobile, AL. He eventually asked to see the large 24” solid curb link god necklace valued at $10,000. Two employees assisted the male while presenting the gold chain. He held the large curb link chain to check the weight before handing it back. At approximately 4:55 PM, the first male examined the gold necklace once again before fleeing the store with the gold chain. The second suspect was at the bridal showcase and fled behind the first male. Witnesses claimed they observed the suspects getting into a white Chevy Malibu with an unknown driver. No injuries were reported. A police report was filed with Gulfport Police.

Suspect(s) Description:

Suspect 1: Male, black, mid to late 20’s, medium complexion, facial hair, 6’ tall, average build, with tattoos on his arms. Wearing multi-color patches bucket style hat, black button-down shirt, black pants and tennis shoes.

Suspect 2: Male, black, mid to late 20’s, medium complexion, stocky build, 5’8”, with multiple plaited side hair style. Wearing a black ball cap with a red bill, black t-shirt with graphics, long shorts with a camo design and white tennis shoes.

If you have any information regarding this incident or information on these criminals, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.

NYPD

Staten Island, NY- NYPD investigating a Staten Island jewelry store robbery.

by Armed RobberyCrime SuspectsCrimesDaily Blog

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — On May 30, 2025, NYPD responded to a report of a robbery on New Dorp Lane Friday afternoon. Around 4:02 p.m. the NYPD received a call for a robbery on the 300 block of New Dorp Lane, according to a police spokesperson. At that time, two individuals entered the location and removed jewelry, the department spokesperson added. An NYPD spokesperson identified the robbed store as “Sunrise Jewelry.” No injuries were reported from the scene and no arrests were made as of 5:30 p.m., the NYPD noted. In the wake of the robbery, police were seen inside of Sunrise Fine Jewelry and visiting nearby businesses. Multiple NYPD vehicles and an ambulance were visible outside the store in the vicinity of New Dorp Lane and Clawson Street following the incident.

If you have any information regarding this incident or information on these criminals, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.