Latest news with #SimiValleyPolice
CBS News
a day 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.
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Karen's horrible seven-word blast at pregnant street vendor after attacking her on exclusive block
A California woman was arrested after lambasting a pregnant woman and allegedly assaulting her over a row about selling treats on her street. Julie Christine Sanchez, 56, of Simi Valley - near Santa Monica - was arrested on battery charges on April 14 after she pushed a food cart vendor, Mary, who is nearly eight months pregnant, to the ground, a press release said. Mary was selling ice cream and candy without a vendor's permit near Torrance Street and Brandon Avenue when Sanchez allegedly approached her. 'Go away!' Sanchez said with her hand on Mary's cart and holding her dog's leash with the other, a video showed. 'Go, go, go, go, go! You're not coming down this street anymore.' Mary responded in Spanish, which angered Sanchez, who was wearing a sweatshirt that indicated she was a nurse. 'English,' she said, before lamenting: 'America. English. 'I told you not to come down to this street anymore, and I f**king meant it. You bring down my property values.' She then began to push Mary's cart - which is filled with nuts, Ring Pops, Fruit by the Foot, and more - down the street. Mary (left) was selling ice cream and candy without a vendor's permit near Torrance Street and Brandon Avenue when Sanchez allegedly approached her and told her she was bringing down the property value of her home Surveillance cameras showed Mary falling as Sanchez pushed her and the cart into the street. A man can be heard yelling as Mary picked herself off the ground, to which Sanchez replied: 'I didn't mean to push her down, but she's not allowed to be on this street either.' Sanchez lives in a predominately white area in an $850,000 home, where 63 percent of residents are white and only 27 percent are Hispanic, according to the US Census and public records. Photos posted to GoFundMe show Mary obtained bruising on her shoulder and stomach from the alleged attack. 'No one should have to endure such violence, especially a pregnant woman who is just trying to make ends meet,' her lawyer Christian Contreras, who also started the fundraiser, wrote. Mary has filed a civil lawsuit against Sanchez and her lawyers are calling for Simi Valley Police to charge the 56-year-old with a hate crime. 'This woman needs to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and we are going to hold her accountable in the civil court,' one of her attorneys, Humberto Guizar, said at a press conference, according to CBS. Contreras is calling for Sanchez to be held accountable and for people like Mary to be protected.
