Thieves Tunnel into Los Angeles Jewelry Store, Steal Millions

A team of thieves executed a daring heist over the weekend by tunneling into Love Jewels, a jewelry store in downtown Los Angeles, and stealing millions of dollars in gold, jewels, and cash. The owners suspect the burglars spent weeks digging a tunnel from an adjacent abandoned theater to access the store.

The break-in was discovered Monday when the store owner’s son, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that the thieves disabled the store's security cameras and alarms before breaching two large safes, KFI reports.

He estimates the thieves spent five to six hours inside the store, with the drilling into one safe alone taking approximately three hours. The second safe was opened without drilling, suggesting the involvement of a professional locksmith.

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the crime but has not confirmed the exact value of the stolen items. However, the store owner claims losses upwards of $20 million. The store did not have insurance, as the cost was deemed too expensive at around $1 million per year.

KFI is reporting on air that the take from the theft was closer to $10 million. The radio station is also reporting that the store was popular with rap performers.