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4 Persons Arrested and Charged with ‘Sophisticated’ Simi Valley Burglary June 15, 2025 (0 comments)

Simi Valley, CA--Four persons were arrested in what local law enforcement described as a “sophisticated” burglary of a local jewelry store.
Millions in jewelry, watches and cash were stolen in a May 25 burglary at the 5 Star Jewelry store in the Southern California city.
Surveillance video shows one of the burglar’s crawling through a candy shop next store before cutting through the wall of the jewelry store and into the store’s safe, according to KABC Los Angeles.
[A file photo of a screengrab from the KTLA website showing a burglar crawling on the ground to avoid motion detectors]
"They were sophisticated and skilled professionals who used counter-surveillance measures—a collapsible ladder, rope and power tools—to cut through a roof, tunnel into a wall (and) breach a safe to take millions in watches, jewelry, cash and other merchandise," Erik Nasarenko, Ventura County district attorney, reportedly said during a press conference Friday.
The four suspects were reportedly arrested on June 10. Officials identified them as Manuel David Ibarra, Sergio Andres Meji-Machuca, Camilo Antonio Aguliar Lara and Heidy Nickolt Trujillo. They all face four felony charges each, with an additional punishment known as an enhancement now possible under the recently approved Proposition 36 law.
If convicted, the suspects could face up to six to nine years in prison, KABC reports.
Investigators reportedly recovered $600,000 in stolen jewelry as well as $20,000 in cash. They also recovered a stolen firearm, and three pieces of stolen art linked to other crimes.
Police are reportedly investigating whether they are involved in other crimes in Southern California.
View the KABC report and view our earlier report of the crime.