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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Burglars clean out father-son jewelers, snatch heirlooms, 'a lifetime's worth of work'
Simi Valley business owner Jonathan Youssef raced to his modest jewelry and repair shop on Memorial Day morning, fearing the worst. The business owner next door had called him just after 6 a.m. to say that burglars had broken into their coffee and candy store and also breached Youssef's establishment, 5 Star Jewelry & Watch Repair. His father and the shop's founder, 71-year-old Jacoub Youssef, had already reached the store located inside a strip mall. The safe appeared intact. Jacoub tried to reassure his just-arriving son — and perhaps himself: "They didn't open the safe." But Jonathan wasn't so sure. 'It was like a movie, like 'Ocean's Eleven' or 'The Italian Job,'' said Jonathan Youssef, the store's co-owner. 'I couldn't believe it, but I told my dad to open the safe.' The patriarch did so, only to find gold bullion, customer jewelry, decades of savings and other items missing. 'It was a lifetime's worth of work — of struggle — gone, just gone,' Jonathan Youssef told The Times on Tuesday evening as he fought back tears. 'Everything we owned and, worse, family heirlooms of our customers are gone. It's unthinkable.' Simi Valley police received a call at 6:33 a.m. from the Youssefs. Senior Officer Casey Nicholson said an unknown number of burglars gained access to Dr. Conkey's Candy & Coffee shop next door through the roof. Nicholson did not confirm how the burglars moved into the jewelry and repair shop, noting that the crime was still under investigation. Surveillance footage provided to KTLA showed burglars crawling on the floor. Jonathan Youssef said detectives told him the burglars spray-painted security cameras as they entered Dr. Conkey's. They then spent about three hours cutting through both walls and about eight inches of his 5,000-pound safe. They cut a crate-sized hole and seized everything inside. 'They were no slouches, and this wasn't their first rodeo,' Jonathan Youssef said of the burglars. 'They knew where the cameras were, how to evade detection and what equipment to use to get into the safe.' Jonathan Youssef estimated his store lost between $2 million and $2.5 million in personal inventory — gold bullion, silver bars, white gold and platinum pieces, cash, multiple high-end Rolex, TAG Heuer and Omega watches, center-stone diamond engagement rings and more. 'It was store merchandise and the accumulation of a lifetime's worth of work for my dad,' Jonathan Youssef said. 'He's been devastated over the loss.' Jonathan Youssef said his father had been 'too distraught' to speak with the media. The elder Youssef emigrated to the United States from Egypt in the early 1970s as a 19-year-old. He's owned several other small businesses and handed over the jewelry store, which he opened 25 years earlier, to his son in 2015, Jonathan Youssef said. They had just decided to reduce store hours as his father neared retirement; Jonathan had purchased a sign Monday reflecting the change. 'He was slowly dwindling his hours away from the store until his actual retirement at the end of the year,' Jonathan Youssef said. But those plans are now in flux. Read more: In cinema-style heist, tunneling thieves steal millions in gold, jewels from downtown L.A. store The younger Youssef said his store couldn't afford to insure what was in their safe, so it's a total loss. The only part that is covered by insurance is the damaged and ultimately ineffective safe, Jonathan Youssef said. 'My father doesn't want to retire now," the son said. "He wants to work to help recoup some of these losses." The younger Youssef estimates the store is in the red several hundred thousand dollars because of the loss of jewelry belonging to roughly 100 neighborhood customers. He said the store's main business was not selling jewelry, but altering and repairing it. 'Those are the irreplaceable items that are difficult to accept,' Jonathan Youssef said. 'I could care less about our inventory.' Since news broke, customers have turned the store into a de facto memorial site, Jonathan Youssef said. 'I've had ladies coming here and crying about their stolen engagement rings or grandma's diamond earrings,' he said. 'There was a guy who screamed in my face about his wife's wedding ring, and it just hurts. It's rough.' Read more: Long Beach man who bragged about crime on Instagram pleads guilty to $2.6-million jewelry heist Kathi Van Etten, chief executive and president of the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce, said the burglary shocked the neighborhood. 'It's so hard because this is such a safe community and you don't expect these types of things to happen,' she said. 'And they did everything right, from having security and taking precautions.' Van Etten said some chamber members had reached out to her to ask how they could help. She said some were planning to bring meals to the Youssefs. 'This is the type of community where people stick together and help each other,' Van Etten said. The younger Youssef said he'd been sustained by community members who had delivered well wishes and hugs since shortly after the burglary. One of his top customers created an online fundraising campaign, hoping to raise $20,000 to help defray some of the losses. The fund has nearly hit $18,000 as of Wednesday afternoon. 'My family is grateful to Simi Valley, to our community, for everything,' he said. 'We have an obligation to this community, and we're not going to rest until everyone who lost something is compensated.' Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Burglars clean out father-son jewelers, snatch heirlooms, ‘a lifetime's worth of work'
Simi Valley business owner Jonathan Youssef raced to his modest jewelry and repair shop on Memorial Day morning, fearing the worst. The business owner next door had called him just after 6 a.m. to say that burglars had broken into their coffee and candy store and also breached Youssef's establishment, 5 Star Jewelry & Watch Repair. His father and the shop's founder, 71-year-old Jacoub Youssef, had already reached the store located inside a strip mall. The safe appeared intact. Jacoub tried to reassure his just-arriving son — and perhaps himself: 'They didn't open the safe.' But Jonathan wasn't so sure. 'It was like a movie, like 'Ocean's Eleven' or 'The Italian Job,'' said Jonathan Youssef, the store's co-owner. 'I couldn't believe it, but I told my dad to open the safe.' The patriarch did so, only to find gold bullion, customer jewelry, decades of savings and other items missing. 'It was a lifetime's worth of work — of struggle — gone, just gone,' Jonathan Youssef told The Times on Tuesday evening as he fought back tears. 'Everything we owned and, worse, family heirlooms of our customers are gone. It's unthinkable.' Simi Valley police received a call at 6:33 a.m. from the Youssefs. Senior Officer Casey Nicholson said an unknown number of burglars gained access to Dr. Conkey's Candy & Coffee shop next door through the roof. Nicholson did not confirm how the burglars moved into the jewelry and repair shop, noting that the crime was still under investigation. Surveillance footage provided to KTLA showed burglars crawling on the floor. Jonathan Youssef said detectives told him the burglars spray-painted security cameras as they entered Dr. Conkey's. They then spent about three hours cutting through both walls and about eight inches of his 5,000-pound safe. They cut a crate-sized hole and seized everything inside. 'They were no slouches, and this wasn't their first rodeo,' Jonathan Youssef said of the burglars. 'They knew where the cameras were, how to evade detection and what equipment to use to get into the safe.' Jonathan Youssef estimated his store lost between $2 million and $2.5 million in personal inventory — gold bullion, silver bars, white gold and platinum pieces, cash, multiple high-end Rolex, TAG Heuer and Omega watches, center-stone diamond engagement rings and more. 'It was store merchandise and the accumulation of a lifetime's worth of work for my dad,' Jonathan Youssef said. 'He's been devastated over the loss.' Jonathan Youssef said his father had been 'too distraught' to speak with the media. The elder Youssef emigrated to the United States from Egypt in the early 1970s as a 19-year-old. He's owned several other small businesses and handed over the jewelry store, which he opened 25 years earlier, to his son in 2015, Jonathan Youssef said. They had just decided to reduce store hours as his father neared retirement; Jonathan had purchased a sign Monday reflecting the change. 'He was slowly dwindling his hours away from the store until his actual retirement at the end of the year,' Jonathan Youssef said. But those plans are now in flux. The younger Youssef said his store couldn't afford to insure what was in their safe, so it's a total loss. The only part that is covered by insurance is the damaged and ultimately ineffective safe, Jonathan Youssef said. 'My father doesn't want to retire now,' the son said. 'He wants to work to help recoup some of these losses.' The younger Youssef estimates the store is in the red several hundred thousand dollars because of the loss of jewelry belonging to roughly 100 neighborhood customers. He said the store's main business was not selling jewelry, but altering and repairing it. 'Those are the irreplaceable items that are difficult to accept,' Jonathan Youssef said. 'I could care less about our inventory.' Since news broke, customers have turned the store into a de facto memorial site, Jonathan Youssef said. 'I've had ladies coming here and crying about their stolen engagement rings or grandma's diamond earrings,' he said. 'There was a guy who screamed in my face about his wife's wedding ring, and it just hurts. It's rough.' Kathi Van Etten, chief executive and president of the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce, said the burglary shocked the neighborhood. 'It's so hard because this is such a safe community and you don't expect these types of things to happen,' she said. 'And they did everything right, from having security and taking precautions.' Van Etten said some chamber members had reached out to her to ask how they could help. She said some were planning to bring meals to the Youssefs. 'This is the type of community where people stick together and help each other,' Van Etten said. The younger Youssef said he'd been sustained by community members who had delivered well wishes and hugs since shortly after the burglary. One of his top customers created an online fundraising campaign, hoping to raise $20,000 to help defray some of the losses. The fund has nearly hit $18,000 as of Wednesday afternoon. 'My family is grateful to Simi Valley, to our community, for everything,' he said. 'We have an obligation to this community, and we're not going to rest until everyone who lost something is compensated.'
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Officials told to expedite repair works of irrigation tanks in Sri Sathya Sai district
Sri Sathya Sai district Collector T.S. Chetan on Thursday reviewed the progress of the repair and restoration works of minor irrigation tanks under the Repair, Renovation, and Restoration (RRR) scheme of the Central government. He said that strengthening the water bodies in the district would auger well for the district's agricultural ecosystem. Addressing a meeting with the officials of the Minor Irrigation, Groundwater, and Water Resources departments here, the Collector underlined the need for taking up restoration works immediately, in view of the ensuing southwest monsoon. He informed the officials to adopt a targeted approach to identify and rehabilitate tanks, which were critical to sustaining ayacut and galvanising the groundwater table. Mr. Chetan said that the RRR scheme envisaged revival plans for minor water bodies by enhancing their water-holding capacity. Sri Sathya Sai district has 1,186 water bodies under the minor and major irrigation tanks, which cater to 83,486 acres of area. The Collector asked the officials to promptly send proposals identifying tanks that were in urgent requirement of repairs, and funds allocation. 'The RRR scheme follows a 60:40 ratio, with the Central government contributing 60 per cent and the State government coming up with 40 per cent share of the expenditures,' Mr. Chetan said. Meanwhile, the Collector checked the reports pertaining to the first phase of works, which included the restoration of 239 tanks. He called for better coordination among departments for effective utilisation of resources and expedition of works.
Malaysian Reserve
07-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Malaysia's Leading Herbal Repair Cream Brand Enters Retail After 4 Years
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — After 4 years of selling exclusively online, Jolicare, Malaysia's #1 selling herbal skincare brand for dry, itchy, and sensitive skin, is making its long-awaited debut in physical retail. The brand's entry into nearly 20 stores across Klang Valley and Johor marks a significant milestone in its journey from an online startup to a household name, with over 100,000+ Jolicare Cream sold since its launch in 2021. Founded in April 2021, Jolicare was born out of a simple but powerful belief: that people struggling with dry, itchy, and sensitive skin deserve more than just temporary relief. Over the years, its flagship product, Jolicare Cream, has become known for providing Lasting Repair — a steroid-free, herbal formulation trusted by families across Malaysia and Singapore. The decision to enter physical retail wasn't made lightly. For the past four years, Jolicare has built its community entirely through digital channels — including Shopee, TikTok Shop, Lazada, and its own website — with over 20,000+ 5-star reviews and customer stories shaping the brand's growth. Jolicare's rise has been quietly impressive. With over 539% year-on-year growth, the brand's momentum reflects a growing demand for lasting, herbal-based solutions. But beyond numbers, it's the voices of customers — thoughtful reviews, heartfelt stories, and consistent repurchases — that continue to shape the brand's journey. Many of these customers, especially those looking for gentler, effective everyday skincare for their dry, itchy, and sensitive skin, have been asking for one thing: easier access. Therefore, this decision to move into retail is not one driven by the company, but the customers. 'We've received thousands of messages from customers who love Jolicare but prefer buying in-store,' said Caleb, CEO of Jolicare. 'Tons of them say – We need the cream urgently. Is there a place we can get it now?' 'Some don't shop online, others want to feel the product before purchasing, and many simply enjoy browsing at their favorite pharmacy.' 'It's time to make Jolicare more accessible.' Caleb added. In just 45 days, Jolicare rolled out to nearly 20 outlets, with many more to come. The brand is already in talks to expand into 1,000 retail stores across Malaysia & Singapore in 2025, signaling a significant wave of momentum for Jolicare. The team shared that walk-in customers have already expressed excitement at discovering the brand on shelves, especially those experiencing skin issues such as eczema, psoriasis, or dry, itchy, and sensitive skin. Jolicare Cream is designed to provide herbal, lasting repair with every use: Formulated with 10+ Premium Herbs 0 Steroids. 0 Parabens. 0 Fragrances. GMP-certified Lab-tested and certified by SGS and MyCO2 20,000+ five-star reviews What's next for Jolicare? While the brand is keeping some details under wraps, pharmacy partnerships are on the horizon, and customers may soon find Jolicare at some of the country's best-known pharmacy chains. 'We'll leave that part as a little surprise. But one thing's for sure — Jolicare is just getting started,' Caleb added with a little wink. To learn more about Jolicare, visit the official website: About Jolicare Jolicare is the #1 selling repair cream for dry, itchy, and sensitive skin in Malaysia and Singapore. With over 100,000+ creams sold and thousands of loyal customers, Jolicare continues to expand its presence both online and offline across Malaysia, Singapore, and beyond. Follow Jolicare on Social Media: Facebook: / Instagram: @ TikTok: @ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Jolicare
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Malaysia's Leading Herbal Repair Cream Brand Enters Retail After 4 Years -- and Customers Are Loving It
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- After 4 years of selling exclusively online, Jolicare, Malaysia's #1 selling herbal skincare brand for dry, itchy, and sensitive skin, is making its long-awaited debut in physical retail. The brand's entry into nearly 20 stores across Klang Valley and Johor marks a significant milestone in its journey from an online startup to a household name, with over 100,000+ Jolicare Cream sold since its launch in 2021. Malaysia's Leading Herbal Repair Cream Brand Enters Retail After 4 Years — and Customers Are Loving It Founded in April 2021, Jolicare was born out of a simple but powerful belief: that people struggling with dry, itchy, and sensitive skin deserve more than just temporary relief. Over the years, its flagship product, Jolicare Cream, has become known for providing Lasting Repair — a steroid-free, herbal formulation trusted by families across Malaysia and Singapore. The decision to enter physical retail wasn't made lightly. For the past four years, Jolicare has built its community entirely through digital channels — including Shopee, TikTok Shop, Lazada, and its own website — with over 20,000+ 5-star reviews and customer stories shaping the brand's growth. Jolicare's rise has been quietly impressive. With over 539% year-on-year growth, the brand's momentum reflects a growing demand for lasting, herbal-based solutions. But beyond numbers, it's the voices of customers — thoughtful reviews, heartfelt stories, and consistent repurchases — that continue to shape the brand's journey. Many of these customers, especially those looking for gentler, effective everyday skincare for their dry, itchy, and sensitive skin, have been asking for one thing: easier access. Therefore, this decision to move into retail is not one driven by the company, but the customers. "We've received thousands of messages from customers who love Jolicare but prefer buying in-store," said Caleb, CEO of Jolicare. "Tons of them say - We need the cream urgently. Is there a place we can get it now?" "Some don't shop online, others want to feel the product before purchasing, and many simply enjoy browsing at their favorite pharmacy." "It's time to make Jolicare more accessible." Caleb added. In just 45 days, Jolicare rolled out to nearly 20 outlets, with many more to come. The brand is already in talks to expand into 1,000 retail stores across Malaysia & Singapore in 2025, signaling a significant wave of momentum for Jolicare. The team shared that walk-in customers have already expressed excitement at discovering the brand on shelves, especially those experiencing skin issues such as eczema, psoriasis, or dry, itchy, and sensitive skin.
