Four Chilean nationals filmed themselves breaking into a jewelry store in Southern California, even posing for the camera and later flashing the stolen goods at their apartment, law enforcement officials revealed.
The crew documented their own crime, breaking through the wall of Dr Conkey’s Candy and Coffee Shop in Simi Valley to gain access to a safe belonging to Five Star Jewelry and Watch Repair on the other side, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
The video released by the DA’s office shows the perpetrators smashing in with a crow bar, before sorting the more than $3 million dollars of stolen watches, bracelets, and other jewelry at their apartment in LA County — at one point, a crew member even reveals his full face on camera.
“The planning, surveillance and sophistication involved in this case required the defendant’s removal from society,” Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said in a statement. “Ventura County will not tolerate organized burglary crews to treat our communities like targets.”
Manuel Ibarra and Camilo Lara were each sentenced to four years and four months in jail, while Heidi Trujillo is serving a four year sentence. The fourth defendant, Sergio Andres Mejía-Machuca, will be sentenced in march, according to the DA’s office.
The thieves performed surveillance on the area prior to the break-in, looking for cameras and inspecting the adjoining wall that connects the candy and jewelry store to get access to the safe, law enforcement officials said.
Five days later on May 25, 2025 they returned with a rope, ladder and other tools for the heist, gaining access to the building through the roof before breaking into the safe.
When they were arrested and taken into custody on June 10, some of the burglars were wearing the stolen jewelry while others were carrying the merchandising in bags, CBS News reported.