Foreign nationals with criminal histories in their home countries have now brought their expertise in jewelry heists to America, stealing $2 million in merchandise and leaving behind what one victim called a “war zone”—all while exploiting our open borders.
At a Glance
- A crew of seven foreign nationals has been arrested for a sophisticated, $2 million jewelry store heist in Glendale, California.
- The burglars cut through the roof of the store to gain entry and used signal jammers to disable security systems.
- Police say the suspects are part of a professional criminal ring and have committed similar crimes in their home countries.
- The crew was caught on June 29 as they attempted another roof-entry burglary at a jewelry store in La Verne, California.
A “Warzone” in a California Jewelry Store
A crew of professional burglars from South America has been arrested after executing a sophisticated, roof-entry heist at a Glendale, California, jewelry store and making off with an estimated $2 million in merchandise. The thieves left the store completely ransacked in the May 27 robbery.
“They cleaned everything, and they made it into a war zone,” store owner Manial Bidrussian told CBS News. The incident is a chilling example of what critics say is a direct consequence of open border policies that allow international criminal enterprises to set up shop in American communities.
A Professional Foreign Crime Ring
The Glendale Police Department was clear about the nature of the suspects they apprehended. “All suspects are foreign nationals believed to be involved in similar crimes spanning both their countries of origin and the United States,” the department said in a statement. This was not a case of desperation; it was an international criminal operation imported into the U.S.
The arrested individuals were identified as Jose Millafil, Javier Sepulveda, Cristian Gonzalezaburto, Luka Pazitiani, Vera Matias, Victor Iturriagalopez, and Edson Gonzalez. https://t.co/wp8B05aE6h
— FOX 11 Los Angeles (@FOXLA) July 1, 2025
The crew’s professionalism was evident in their tactics. To bypass the alarms in the Glendale store, they cut a hole in the roof to gain entry. During a subsequent attempt at another store, they were found with high-tech equipment, including signal jammers and wire-cutting tools.
Caught in the Act
After the Glendale heist, police identified the suspects and began tracking them. On the evening of Sunday, June 29, 2025, investigators learned that the crew was preparing to hit another target: Rodeo Jewelers in the city of La Verne.
Law enforcement set up a sting operation, and, as reported by Fox News, they moved in to arrest the group as they attempted to gain entry through the roof of the second store. Police successfully took seven suspects into custody, though an eighth managed to escape and remains at large. Police are also investigating whether the same crew is responsible for a recent, similar $1.5 million heist in nearby El Monte.
