Burglars broke into an Arcadia jewelry store Friday night after tunneling through the next-door business and cutting through the safe, according to the shop owners.
The burglary at L&Z Jewelry, which has only been in business for about two years, was reported to have happened Friday night, going into Saturday morning, police said.
The burglars were able to get into the jewelry shop after gaining access to the next-door business’s roof and tunneling through the walls.
The owners say that thousands of dollars in cash and jewelry were stolen from their safe.
“We lost everything,” said Pepei, the owner of L&Z Jewelry. “When I opened the front door, I smelled burning… I saw that my safe was cut and saw that the wall had a hole.”
Pepei then says she went through the hole to the business next door, where she noticed the burglars had cut through the roof of the building. She says the burglars were inside for at least four hours.
“They took everything, the jewelry, the chains, also diamonds, everything, rings, they took everything,” said Pepei.
The business owner estimates the thieves stole about half a million in property and an unknown amount of jewelry from customers who brought their stuff in for repairs.
The Arcadia Police Department says that the commercial robbery unit is investigating the incident, which occurred between the night of Oct. 17 and the early morning of Oct. 18, but that they cannot share any further details at this time.
This couple says they started the business recently after years of dreaming of becoming independent and are now warning other business owners.
“Be careful, protect your businesses and your property,” said Pepei.
Source: NBC Los Angeles