Latest news with #ChileanNationals
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Simi Valley police bust sophisticated burglary crew, allegedly tied to $3 million jewelry store heist
The Simi Valley Police Department announced the bust of a sophisticated burglary crew on Friday, responsible for allegedly stealing more than $3 million worth of property from a Simi Valley jewelry store last month. Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said four suspects allegedly connected to the burglary, ranging in age from 25 to 37 years old, pleaded not guilty in court on Thursday to felony charges of conspiracy to commit commercial burglary and conspiracy to receive stolen property. "These were not teenagers burglarizing a local business to score quick cash," Nasarenko said. "Rather, they were sophisticated and skilled professionals who used countersurveillance measures, a collapsable ladder, rope, and power tools to cut through a roof, tunnel through a wall, breach a safe – to take millions in watches, jewelry, cash and other merchandise." Simi Valley Police Department Chief Steve Shorts said at Friday's news conference that the suspects are allegedly tied to a South American theft group, a network known for committing organized and targeted commercial burglaries. "All suspects are Chilean nationals who have been in California for an undetermined amount of time," he said. On May 25 around 11:30 p.m., the suspects allegedly entered the adjoining business of 5 Star Jewelry and Watch Repair through its roof. Shorts said they then tunneled their way through a shared wall into the jewelry store and spray-painted the surveillance cameras once inside the store. A safe containing approximately $3.5 million in cash, high-end watches, and precious jewelry was stolen. The day before, on May 24, Shorts described what could have been a practice run for the suspects, as they used similar tactics to break into Simi Jewelers & Pawnbrokers, but nothing was stolen. Shorts said detectives also located surveillance footage from the shopping plaza where 5 Star Jewelry and Watch Repair is located that showed the suspects allegedly scouting the site five days before the burglary occurred. Through coordinated efforts with local, state, and federal agencies, detectives used surveillance footage, license plate reader data and forensic review of digital evidence to identify the suspects. On June 10, police arrested Sergio Machuca, 28, Manuel Ibarra, 37, Camilo Lara, 32, and Heidy Trujillo, 25, all San Fernando Valley residents. "Some … were actually carrying the stolen merchandise in multiple bags from the jewelry store at the time of their arrest, while others were literally wearing the stolen jewelry," Nasarenko said. During the arrests and subsequent Canoga Park search warrant, detectives recovered large amounts of jewelry, cash, and designer watches, confirmed to be items from the Simi Valley jewelry store, and its adjoining candy shop business. There may be additional cases connected to this group, but police could not provide further details. "But believe me, that is being examined by outside agencies," Shorts said. All four suspects remain jailed on $100,000 bail.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Recent arrests sheds light on suspected gang activity in Tennessee
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (WKRN) — Authorities tracked down three suspects who are accused of breaking into homes in the Brentwood area. The trio was arrested Friday in Chattanooga after a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper stopped the vehicle they were traveling in. According to officials, the men are Chilean Nationals tied residential burglaries that occurred in Tennessee, Missouri and California. RELATED: 3 Chilean nationals suspected in Middle TN burglaries arrested in Chattanooga The arrests come amid reports of foreign gangs in Middle Tennessee. Deborah Newitz said she was a victim of a similar crime earlier this year. 'Four men dressed in black and wearing face masks hopped the fence and ran across our property to the back of our home and smashed our bedroom window,' she recalled. Newitz spoke at a press conference called by Congressman Andy Ogles on Memorial Day as he invited residents to speak on their encounters with suspected foreign gang members. 'After nine minutes of using crow bars and striking and kicking doors and glass panels, they eventually gained access to our home,' she added. PREVIOUS | Brentwood police advise residents to be on the lookout for burglary suspects Although Newitz wasn't at home when the break-in happened, she said her teenage daughter was. During the press conference, she said the men that broke into her home got away with things both expensive and sentimental. 'Among jewelry and cash, these men stole heirlooms and inexpensive, but irreplaceable, Mother's Day gifts that my children made for me,' Newitz said. The Brentwood Police Department advised residents to be on the lookout for the suspects last week after a burglary was reported in the Witherspoon neighborhood. In the latest case, officials said the men stole Rolex watches, jewelry and had fake Peruvian IDs on them when they were arrested. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
