$20 Million Jewelry Heist Hits Downtown LA
A high-profile jewelry store in downtown Los Angeles was the target of a sophisticated burglary involving wall tunneling and a total security breach. The store owner estimates losses at $20 million, making it one of the largest jewelry thefts in the area in recent years.
Suspects Tunnel Through Adjacent Wall
The burglary occurred late on April 13 at Love Jewels, located near 5th Street and Broadway. According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the suspects entered the store by cutting through a thick wall from a neighboring movie theater. They then disabled all security cameras and alarm systems before looting the premises.
The store owner discovered the break-in the following morning, April 14 and notified police. By the time officers arrived, the store had been stripped of all valuables, including cash, gold, and jewelry.
FBI Assumes Control of Investigation
Officer Raul Jovel of LAPD said the estimated time of the burglary was around 9:30 p.m. on April 13. Due to the professional nature of the crime, LAPD believes the incident was carried out by an organized theft ring. The case has since been transferred to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for further investigation.
LAPD investigators stated the suspects immediately disabled the store’s surveillance system upon entry, leaving no usable footage. Forensic teams are currently analyzing fingerprints and DNA from the scene.
Insurance Lapse Magnifies Loss
While police initially estimated losses at $10 million, the store owner maintains the figure is closer to $20 million. The store was not covered by insurance, making the financial impact especially severe.
The jewelry store is well known in the community and frequently visited by rappers and influencers. Speaking about the incident, the owner’s son Kevin said, “My father’s 20 years of hard work disappeared in a single night.”
Tunneling Theft Not New to LA
According to the Los Angeles Times, tunnel-based burglaries have occurred in LA since the 1980s. The paper cited the “Hole in the Ground Gang,” a group that dug tunnels into banks and once escaped with $270,000 and other valuables from two locations.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
