AP – Millions of dollars worth of gems and jewellery were stolen in an armoured truck robbery last week in Southern California, authorities said early yesterday.
The Brink’s truck was robbed in the early morning on July 11 near Los Angeles (LA), said Dana Callahan, a spokeswoman for the security company.
The merchandise had been loaded onto the truck late on July 10 following an exhibit hosted by the International Gem and Jewellery Show in San Mateo, south of San Francisco, said Brandy Swanson, the group’s director. It was going to an event at the Pasadena Convention Centre just northeast of LA, she said.
Swanson said between 25 and 30 bags were taken, containing an unknown number of individual pieces. She said 18 victims were reporting more than USD100 million in losses.
Callahan said it was less than USD10 million.
“According to the information the customers provided to us before they shipped their items, the total value of the missing items is less than USD10 million,” Brink’s said in a statement.
“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.”
Laura Eimiller, spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in LA, said the robbery was in the desert city of Lancaster in northern LA County. Eimiller said the bureau agency was working with local authorities, but she could not immediately provide more information.
A dispatcher with the LA County Sheriff’s Department, which patrols Lancaster, didn’t have information about the investigation.
