It’s been called the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history. In 2022, thieves made off with approximately $100-million worth of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and luxury watches.

For three years, authorities tried to track the criminals — and the loot — down. As KTLA 5 reports, federal officials got a big break this June when they pulled over a vehicle en route from one jewelry show near San Francisco to another in Pasadena.

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In the process, they recovered some of the stolen goods.

Seven men are indicted on federal charges in connection with the heist. If found guilty on all counts, they each face prison sentences of 20 years or more.

One of them — Jazael Padilla Resto, 36, of Boyle Heights (alias Ricardo Noel Moya, Ricardo Barbosa and Alberto Javier Loza Chamorro) — is already an inmate in Arizona state prison.

His co-accused are:

• Carlos Victor Mestanza Cercado, 31, of Pasadena
• Pablo Raul Lugo Larroig, (alias Walter Loza), 41, of Rialto
• Victor Hugo Valencia Solorzano, 60, of Rampart Village, Los Angeles
• Jorge Enrique Alban, 33, of South Los Angeles
• Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores, 42, of Upland
• Eduardo Macias Ibarra, 36, of Westlake, Los Angeles.

‘Kind of stuff you see at the Oscars’

While authorities are still trying to locate the remainder of the stolen gems and watches, they do know how criminals carried out the heist.

As KTLA 5 reports, on July 10, 2022, criminals followed a Brinks truck — loaded with priceless gems and luxury goods — 300 miles from a jewelry show in San Mateo to a rest stop in Lebec, California.

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One of the Brinks crew went inside the rest stop for a 27-minute break while his colleague slept.

It was enough time for thieves to break into the truck and make off with 24 out of 73 bags of jewelry bags of priceless gems and luxury goods, described by the Los Angeles Times reveals as “the kind of stuff you see at the Oscars.”

Authorities also accuse Mestanza, Padilla, Lugo, and Valencia of allegedly stealing $240,573 worth of Samsung electronics from an interstate cargo shipment in Ontario, California on March 2, 2022.

The same seven suspects are accused of attempting a brazen crowbar break-in at a Fontana rest stop. Though that job failed, they bounced back, making off with about $14,081 worth of Samsung electronics from another interstate shipment in Fontana, according to federal officials.

Why jewelry heists are big business for thieves

Industry experts say high-value jewelry thefts are surging, and that thieves are outpacing security measures with sophisticated criminal tactics. Jewelry’s compact size and high value make it an attractive target for thieves.

In 2023, reported losses reached $133.2 million, a 2.9% increase from 2022, according to the Jewelers Security Alliance.

“The increase in dollar losses can be attributed to highly professional criminals and organized gangs carrying out high-dollar crimes resulting in large losses,” the alliance reports.

High-tech methods

Jewelers Mutual reports that today, jewelry thieves use mobile hunting cameras for surveillance, Wi-Fi jammers to disable alarms and tools like torches and angle grinders to break into safes. They exploit jewelry stores with outdated security systems by gaining access through rooftops and shared walls.

Organized and sophisticated crime

The FBI links the rise in jewelry thefts to organized criminal rings, some from Columbia. These groups work out detailed plans to pull off big heists. They use big cities like Los Angeles, Miami and New York as ‘fencing cities’ to convert stolen jewels into cash.

Industry response

Now industry groups like Jewelers Mutual and the Jewelers Security Alliance are sounding the alarm. They recommend that jewelry businesses update alarm and other security systems, train staff in security measures and conduct regular security audits.

The stakes are sky-high, and the race between law enforcement and sophisticated crime rings is far from over. For now, the glittering haul from that Lebec rest stop is a reminder that in the world of jewelry theft, the thieves still hold the cards — and the diamonds.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.