El Monte, California — A highly organized burglary crew of at least four individuals managed to escape with an estimated $1.5 million in gold and diamonds after breaching the roof of a family-owned jewelry store, Meza’s Jewelry, on Main Street late Saturday night.
The Sophisticated Heist
The thieves executed their plan with precision, making their way onto the roof and breaking into the store through the ceiling. Once inside, they ransacked the store, collecting everything they could before leaving with a suitcase full of precious valuables.
Devastating Discovery for the Meza Family
Rossanna Meza, a co-owner of the store, made the heart-wrenching discovery the following morning. “I saw everything was taken, everything was gone,” she said emotionally. “It’s all our savings, our whole life right there. We’ve been working so hard and all of a sudden, we have nothing.”
Previous Incidents of Targeting the Meza Family
This is not the first time the Meza family has been targeted. Back in September 2023, surveillance cameras captured a violent confrontation between family members and a suspect, later identified as 36-year-old Joshua Lee Simons.
The footage showed the family struggling with the large man after he sprayed bear repellent in the face of a 70-year-old family member and tried to smash a display case. Simons was ultimately seen running away empty-handed, shirtless, and struggling to keep his pants up.
A String of Other High-Profile Heists in the Area
The latest burglary, believed to have been carried out by professional thieves, comes after a series of other high-value heists in the area.
On June 1, millions of dollars worth of merchandise was stolen from Afghan Lapis Jewelry in Encino, where thieves used a blowtorch during the break-in.
In late May, another heist occurred at 5 Star Jewelry & Watch Repair in Simi Valley, where burglars accessed the shop through the roof of a neighboring business, drilling through the wall. A similar break-in occurred at Bidrussian Jewelry in Glendale around the same time.
Thieves Well-Prepared with Advanced Tools
In each of these incidents, law enforcement officials reported that the thieves came prepared with sophisticated tools such as blow torches, power tools, and electronic devices designed to jam security systems.
Rossanna Meza described the thieves as professionals, saying, “They were prepared. They also had tools and things to confuse the alarms. They know what they are doing.”
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Investigation Ongoing
The police investigation is ongoing as authorities work to track down the suspects involved in these high-profile robberies, which have left the community and local businesses shaken.
What do you think can be done to prevent such organized robberies? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more updates on local crimes and safety tips, visit ridgecrestpact.org
