Glendale Jewelry Store Heist: Blowtorch Used in Multi-Million Dollar Theft

Devastating Jewelry Store Heist

• 💎 A family-owned jewelry store in Glendale was completely wiped out, with thieves stealing millions of dollars worth of jewelry and gold.
• 💡 The owner described the loss as heartbreaking, stating the business his parents built is gone.

Method of Entry and Theft

• 📈 Thieves entered the Division Jewelry store through the roof, bypassing traditional entrances.
• 🛠️ They used high-tech tools and blowtorches to cut through thick safes in the back room.
• 💥 The use of blowtorches is believed to have triggered an explosion, prompting the Glendale Police bomb squad to respond and temporarily shut down a nearby intersection.

Impact on the Owner

• 💔 The owner expressed that his life has changed, losing not only his business but also the legacy he hoped to leave for his family.
• ⏳ He has been running the business for 23 years, which was passed down from his parents who started it in 1980.
• 🔒 Despite fortifying his business with metal gates, alarm systems, and motion sensors, he still became a target.

Similarities to Other Heists

• 🔗 There are strong similarities to a recent jewelry heist in Simi Valley, where suspects also cut through a roof to access an adjacent jewelry store and broke into a safe.
• ❓ The owner is uncertain about his future and how he and his family will rebuild their lives.

Community Support

• 🤝 The owner's brother-in-law has set up a GoFundMe page to help the family get back on their feet.
• 🌐 A link to the GoFundMe page can be found under the story on KTLA.com.