Seven men, suspected of jewelry thefts in their home countries, have reportedly entered the United States to carry out similar crimes, according to police.
The suspects allegedly breached the roof of a jewelry store in Glendale, California, on May 27. Although they escaped that day, an investigation was set in motion that eventually helped identify the group.
Police revealed in a statement that on the evening of Sunday, June 29, 2025, they received intelligence suggesting the men were planning to hit another jewelry establishment, Rodeo Jewelers, located at 1560 Foothill Boulevard in La Verne City.
“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,” police added.
Suspects of a jewelry store robbery used wire cutters and signal jammers during the incident in Glendale, California on June 25, 2025. (Fox News)
They have been identified as: Jose Millafil, Javier Sepulveda, Cristian Gonzalezaburto, Luka Pazitiani, Vera Matias, Victor Iturriagalopez and Edson Gonzalez. Police did not say where they were from.
Less than 30 minutes’ drive away from La Verne, a family-owned jewelry store in El Monte recently lost half its inventory when the store was ransacked, FOX 11 Los Angeles reported. The Meza family estimates their losses at $1.5 million.
Thieves cleared display cases at Love Jewels, Reina de Oro and got away with millions of dollars in gold and jewels were stolen from the store in April 2025. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Law enforcement sources confirmed to the local TV station that a professional theft ring has been targeting Los Angeles County jewelry stores recently, but Glendale police did not say if the Meza store break-in is attributed to the same group.
