Four members of a burglary crew were arrested in connection with a $3 million jewelry store heist in Ventura County.
The suspects, all Chilean nationals, were identified by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office as:
- Heidy Nickolt Trujillo, 25
- Camilo Antonio Aguliar Lara, 31
- Sergio Andres Meji-Machuca, 27
- Manuel David Ibarra, 37
Beginning in May, the burglary crew is accused of a scheme targeting 5 Star Jewelry & Watch repair, a family-owned business on Cochran Street in Simi Valley.
On May 20, three suspects arrived at the store in a white Volvo SUV, where two people conducted surveillance and peered into the store through the front window.
They entered Dr. Conkey’s Candy and Coffee shop next door to assess the location of any surveillance cameras. They also allegedly inspected the walls that adjoin the jewelry store.
On May 25, the crew returned to the shopping plaza and brought a ladder and rope with them. The ladder was placed against the coffee shop’s exterior as the thieves cut through the roof to gain entry, authorities said.
They drilled a hole through a shared wall between the coffee and jewelry shop to access the store’s safe. One suspect had also spray-painted a surveillance camera to cover up the break-in.
The group ransacked the jewelry store and escaped with over $3 million worth of jewelry, watches, cash and valuables, prosecutors said. They fled the area and transported the stolen jewelry to a home in L.A. County.
The costly theft had devastated the family that owned the store. Owner Jonathan Youssef said that 25 years ago, his father had built the business from the ground up and had planned on retiring soon before losing everything they owned.
On June 10, the four suspects were arrested. Some of them were reportedly found wearing the stolen items. A stolen firearm was also located. They were charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit commercial burglary and two counts of conspiracy to receive stolen property.
These were not teenagers burglarizing a local business to score quick cash,” Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said during a June 13 news conference. “They were sophisticated and skilled professionals who used counter-surveillance measures, a collapsible ladder, rope, and power tools to cut through a roof, tunnel into a wall, and breach a safe to take millions in watches, jewelry, cash and other merchandise.”
Authorities said there may be additional cases connected with the group, but no further details were provided on those incidents.
All four suspects are being held on $100,000 bail. If convicted as charged, they could face six to nine years in prison.
They are scheduled for an early disposition conference in Ventura County Superior Court on June 23. A preliminary hearing is set for June 26.
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