Jewels worth millions stolen from trailer

Thieves broke into an unattended Brink’s tractor-trailer parked at a remote California rest stop and stole millions of dollars worth of jewellery and gemstones after the vehicle’s two armed guards walked away, authorities said.

The tractor-trailer had been travelling overnight from a jewellery show in San Francisco down to Los Angeles for another event.

It was not clear whether the suspects followed the vehicle along its 603-kilometre journey or stumbled across it at the rest stop in a crime of opportunity, according to Los Angeles Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Mileski.

The guards reported the heist around 2 a.m. on July 11 after they noticed that the trailer’s lock had been tampered with, Mileski said on Monday.

Investigators are trying to determine how the lock was broken.

“If I had that much money in jewellery, I think I would have the most secure lock on it,” Mileski said.

It was not clear how long the guards had left the vehicle unattended at the Flying J rest stop and gas station in Lebec, 120 kilometres north of Los Angeles.

The merchandise had been loaded onto the truck late on July 10 following an exhibition hosted by the International Gem and Jewelry Show in San Mateo, south of San Francisco, said Brandy Swanson, the group’s director. It was going to an event at the Pasadena Convention Center, she said.

While Swanson said 18 victims were reporting more than $100 million US in losses, Brink’s said the stolen items were worth less than $10 million.

“According to the information the customers provided to us before they shipped their items, the total value of the missing items is less than $10 million,” Brink’s said.

“We are working with law enforcement, and we will fully reimburse our customers for the value of their assets that were stolen, in accordance with the terms of our contract.”

Representatives for Brink’s and the International Gem and Jewelry Show did not respond to requests for comment.

Swanson said vendors who travel between jewellery shows typically underinsure their merchandise because they can’t afford to insure it fully.

“That’s where the discrepancy comes in,” Swanson said.