In what prosecutors are calling the “biggest jewelry heist in U.S. history,” a dazzling array of precious gems and luxury items were stolen, resembling a display straight out of a high-end boutique on Rodeo Drive. The stolen loot includes a ring featuring a sapphire stone the size of an almond, as well as another ring intricately crafted with diamonds intertwined amongst pools of amethyst, along with a pair of dangling earrings adorned with six different gems.
The heist took place on July 11, 2022, when a Brink’s semi truck made a late-night pit stop at a gas station in Lebec, California. While one armed guard driver went inside for food and the other slept, a group of robbers managed to break into the truck, making off with 24 bags of jewelry valued at an estimated $100 million.
After nearly three years, federal authorities finally made a breakthrough in the case, charging seven individuals in connection with the theft on June 17. This incident was part of a series of thefts from cargo trucks that began in March 2022. The suspects were described as professional, organized, and well-prepared, with a successful system in place to carry out multiple heists.
For further details on the heist and the capture of the suspected thieves, refer to the link provided in the article. Below, you’ll find photos showcasing some of the standout pieces that were stolen in this brazen crime.
Amanda Lee Myers, a senior crime reporter for USA TODAY, covered this story. Follow her on Twitter at @amandaleeusat.
