$10 million worth of jewelry stolen from Brink's tractor-trailer, FBI investigating
An estimated $10 million of jewelry and gems were taken from a Brink's tractor-trailer parked at a remote Southern California rest stop prompting the Federal Bureau of investigation and local law enforcement agencies to continue an investigation Monday into the heist.
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The tractor-trailer had been traveling overnight from a jewelry show in the San Francisco Bay Area down to the Los Angeles region for another event. It was not immediately clear whether the suspects followed the vehicle along its 375-mile journey or stumbled across it at the rest stop in a crime of opportunity, according to Los Angeles Sheriff's Sgt. Michael Mileski.
The tractor-trailer's two armed guards walked away temporarily. The theft was reported by the guards around 2 a.m. on July 11.
"Last we heard is the guards left the truck unattended when they went to eat," said Arnold Duke, president of The International Gem and Jewelry Show. "When they came back they discovered the truck had been breached."
Investigators believe it happened when the Brink's truck was taking the merchandise from the International Gem and Jewelry Show in San Mateo to another show at the Pasadena Convention Center.
Brink's released a statement after the crime occurred: "According to the information the customers provided to us before they shipped their items, the total value of the missing items is less than $10 million. We are working with law enforcement, and we will fully reimburse our customers for the value of their assets that were stolen, in accordance with the terms of our contract."
Investigators are trying to determine how the lock was broken. The FBI is also working on the case. No suspect information has been released.
"Those men are not allowed to leave that vehicle unattended, it goes against all of Brink's protocols," added Duke. "I mean, it's beyond my comprehension if that's what indeed happened."