Millions of dollars in jewelry stolen from an armored truck in California
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Millions of dollars worth of jewelry and gemstones belonging to exhibitors at a California retail show were stolen from an armored truck driving north of Los Angeles last week, US authorities said yesterday.
The burglary occurred in the early hours of July 11 in Fraser Park while a Brink Security Services truck was taking it to a storage facility, said Brandy Swanson, director of the International Gem and Jewelry Show, which hosts retail fairs in locations across the United States.
Authorities initially reported the theft in the northern city of Lancaster in Los Angeles County, but FBI officials later confirmed the location was in Fraser Park, about 80 km (50 miles) west in Kern County.
"They were all precious jewels...but they just disappeared," one of the victims of the victims said on condition of anonymity, speaking to Los Angeles-based KCAL9 television, which is to CBS.
"On Sunday you had goods, but today you have nothing," he said.
He said that many of the stolen goods were unique pieces that he showed in videos.
Swanson said the theft included between 25 and 30 jewelry and gem lockers belonging to 18 individual exhibitors at a fair in San Mateo, south of San Francisco.
The merchandise was on its way to storage before its last show in Pasadena.
No further details were released regarding the theft.
Brinks said in a press release that the lost value does not exceed ten million dollars, while Swanson said that its value is close to 100 million dollars.
The security services company could not be reached for comment.
To explain the discrepancy, Swanson said, smaller exhibitors tend to undervalue their insurance lots because of the higher cost of coverage.
She added that her group works alongside local law enforcement and the FBI.
She added that it was not clear how the truck was stolen, and whether tracking devices were installed in the tanks or surveillance cameras in the truck or in the area.
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