Latest news with #BidrussianJewelry
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Yahoo
Sophisticated South American Crime Tourists Hit with Charges for Jewelry Heists
Sophisticated South American Crime Tourists Hit with Charges for Jewelry Heists originally appeared on L.A. Mag. When Glendale Police arrived to a small mom-and-pop jewelry store that had just been cleaned out on a Tuesday afternoon in late May, there was no sign of forced entry, at first, until they looked up. The sophisticated thieves had burrowed through the roof of Bidrussian Jewelry located at 1102 ½ S. Glendale Avenue and made off with what police are calling an "unknown amount of jewelry" and fled into the night. During the robbery, the thieves used cell phone jammers so no one could call police, which also left people unable to call emergency services for other issues, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Thursday. Glendale Detectives assigned to the burglary division launched an investigation, worked sources and pressed known fences, and came up with likely suspects: a professional robbery crew from South America, part of a recent and growing surge of criminals from outside the U.S. who come to L.A. as "crime tourists" with plans to steal. Last summer, a similar crew was locked up for a brazen stickup right out of a Hollywood action flick: the robbers pointed a gun at a tourist eating lunch with his family at the Beverly Hills Four Seasons and demanded his Rolex, one of many gunpoint watch heists the Venezuelans pulled off as tourists to L.A. There have been so many crimes that fit the pattern, that the streets were talking about a new crew that was planning to break into another small jewelry store in La Verne. Glendale Police puts it this way, detectives "developed leads identifying possible suspects. Working in coordination with local agencies, detectives initiated surveillance on the group." And when they showed up at their next target, Rodeo Jewelers, located at 1560 Foothill Boulevard in the City of La Verne, in the dead of night last Sunday, police were waiting, surveilling, ready to pounce. Once again, police say, "the suspects also used signal jammers and cut wires to the location," to prevent surveillance or 911 calls from anyone who saw them in action. Once they were in, they were nabbed, police and prosecutors say. 'To those involved in organized crime targeting businesses in Los Angeles County: No matter how carefully planned your crimes may be, you will be identified, apprehended, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,' Hochman said. 'Not only do these reckless crimes threaten livelihoods and instill fear in communities, but attempts to avoid detection by disabling emergency services put millions of lives at risk. This will not be tolerated under my watch.'The men charged are: Jose Millafil; Luka Pazitiani; Javier Sepulveda; Matias Vera; Victor Iturriagalopez; Edson Gonzalez; and Cristian Gonzalezaburto. They are all charged with multiple felonies for burglarizing two jewelry stores and causing extensive infrastructure damage. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Los Angeles Times
03-07-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Thieves with ‘signal jammers' snatch $1 million in jewelry in Glendale caper, D.A. says; 7 charged
L.A. prosecutors charged seven people this week with a pair of elaborate jewelry heists involving 'signal jammers' that netted the alleged thieves more than $1 million in stolen goods, officials said. The group, which Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman described as a 'South American crime ring,' allegedly stole more than $1 million in goods from Bidrussian Jewelry in Glendale on May 26 after cutting a hole in the roof, according to a news release issued by the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. Last week, the same group was in the process of carrying out a similar break-in at Rodeo Jewelers in La Verne when they were interrupted by officers from five different police agencies, led by the Glendale Police Department, authorities said. In the La Verne incident, prosecutors said the defendants used 'signal jammers' and cut utility lines that disabled Internet and emergency services in the area. 'To those involved in organized crime targeting businesses in Los Angeles County: No matter how carefully planned your crimes may be, you will be identified, apprehended, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,' Hochman said in a statement. 'Not only do these reckless crimes threaten livelihoods and instill fear in communities, but attempts to avoid detection by disabling emergency services put millions of lives at risk. This will not be tolerated under my watch.' Jose Millafil, 30; Luka Pazitiani, 27; Javier Sepulveda, 24; Matias Vera, 34; Victor Iturriagalopez, 20; Edson Gonzalez, 33; and Cristian Gonzalezaburto, 30, were each charged with two counts of grand theft, two counts of commercial burglary, as well as vandalism and cutting a utility line. Each defendant pleaded not guilty during an appearance at the Burbank courthouse Wednesday. A spokesperson for the district attorney's office could not immediately provide information about attorneys representing each defendant.
CBS News
01-07-2025
- CBS News
Burglary ring allegedly responsible for $2 million Glendale jewelry store heist busted
The Glendale Police Department announced the arrest of a group of men believed to be responsible for a May 27 burglary of a Glendale jewelry store where the thieves broke in through the roof of the shop and stole around $2 million worth of goods, according to the shop owner. Bidrussian Jewelry owner Manial Bidrussian said after the burglary, "They cleaned everything, and they made it into a warzone. As I've been telling everybody else, it's like a battle, a war happened in here." The burglars broke through the jewelry store's roof at roughly 1 a.m. on May 27, according to the Glendale Police Department. Once inside, they ransacked the shop and cleaned out all of the safes. Thieves broke in through the roof of Bidrussian Jewelry in Glendale on May 27. The owner said they wiped him out, stealing about $2 million in goods. KCAL News Following this incident, Glendale police detectives developed leads and identified possible suspects, and began surveilling a group. Police said they received information that the group was planning to target another jewelry store on June 29 in the city of La Verne. "As the suspects attempted to gain entry through the roof, law enforcement officers coordinated to take the group into custody. The suspects also used signal jammers and cut wires to the location during the incident," a Glendale Police Department news release stated. Eight suspects were at the scene, and seven were taken into custody with the assistance of several local agencies, including the La Verne Police Department. "All suspects are foreign nationals believed to be involved in similar crimes spanning both their countries of origin and the United States," the news release said. The following men were arrested: Jose Millafil, Javier Sepulveda, Cristian Gonzalezaburto, Luka Pazitiani, Vera Matias, Victor Iturriagalopez, and Edson Gonzalez. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Glendale Police Department's Burglary Unit at (818) 548-3127.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blowtorch used in costly heist of Glendale family-owned jewelry store
A burglar who got away with a large amount of gold and valuables is believed to have caused an explosion while using a blowtorch to break into a jewelry store in Glendale earlier this week. Bidrussian Jewelry owner Manail Bidrussian, whose family has operated the store for over four decades, said he knew something was wrong when he arrived Tuesday morning and noticed the lights were on. Bidrussian says that despite his security system featuring a gate, heavy-duty locks, cameras and motion sensors, he found his shop had been ransacked. 'They came in through the top. We have to pay more attention to the outside of the building,' he said. Video showed that the store's glass cases had been completely emptied, while desks and safes were destroyed. The burglar used a blowtorch and is believed to have caused an explosion while cutting through a safe that contained gold, ammunition and guns. Bidrussian said a bomb squad had to come to the business to make sure it was safe following the break-in. Bidrussian's wife estimates the burglars made off with about $2 million worth of valuables. 'It is with deep sadness that we share the heartbreaking news that the Bidrussian family's jewelry store—proudly rooted in the heart of Glendale for over 45 years—was the target of a devastating and highly organized burglary on Memorial Day weekend, in the early hours of Tuesday morning,' a post reads on a GoFundMe account to support the family. A similar type of burglary occurred at 5 Star Jewelry & Watch Repair in Simi Valley on Sunday night. In that heist, multiple suspects used a tool to cut through the roof of an adjacent coffee shop before stealing cash and merchandise from the jewelry store. 'I feel bad because this was my life, my retirement…they got everything we had,' said Jacob Youssef, who started the business 25 years ago. 'I don't know what to say…I'm 71 years old…I cannot rebuild what I did in my lifetime.' Investigators have not confirmed any connection between the two burglaries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
