Michael Chapman, 38, co-owner and president of Chapman's Jewelry & Gifts, holds a gold Invicta watch from the display counter inside the jewelry shop in Detroit on Feb. 1, 2023.
Simi Valley, California – In what prosecutors described as a “sophisticated and skilled” operation, authorities have charged four Chilean nationals tied to an international theft ring with felonies after allegedly burglarizing a Simi Valley jewelry store on Memorial Day, making off with more than $3 million in cash, jewelry, and customer heirlooms.
The elaborate heist targeted 5 Star Jewelry & Watch Repair, a family-owned business that had operated for more than two decades in a quiet strip mall. Surveillance footage captured the suspects casing the location five days before the burglary, examining ceiling access points, assessing surveillance camera coverage, and inspecting the shared wall between the jewelry store and a neighboring candy shop. One of the men even appeared to mimic spray-painting over a security camera.
In the early morning hours of May 25, prosecutors say the suspects returned with tools, a collapsible ladder, and rope. After entering through the roof of the candy shop, the group spent hours tunneling through a shared wall to reach the 5,000-pound safe that held gold bullion, diamond rings, high-end watches, and hundreds of personal items left by customers for repair. They blacked out surveillance cameras and carefully ransacked the premises before fleeing to Los Angeles County with the stolen goods.
Four suspects—Manuel Ibarra, 38; Camilo Lara, 32; Sergio Mejia-Machuca, 27; and Heidy Trujillo, 26—were arrested on June 10. Authorities recovered approximately $600,000 in stolen property, including Rolex, TAG Heuer, and Omega watches matching the store’s inventory, as well as more than $20,000 in cash. Some suspects were reportedly found wearing the stolen items.
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced the charges at a press conference Friday, emphasizing the calculated nature of the crime. “These were not teenagers burglarizing a local business to score quick cash,” he said. “They were professionals who used counter-surveillance, power tools, and careful planning to execute a multimillion-dollar theft.”
Each defendant faces two counts of conspiracy to commit commercial burglary and two counts of conspiracy to receive stolen property, with enhancements tied to the value of the theft. If convicted, they could serve six to nine years in state prison.
Store owner Jonathan Youssef called the arrests “bittersweet,” noting that while the suspects are off the streets, much of what was stolen—including irreplaceable heirlooms—has likely been melted down or sold off.
The suspects are being held on $100,000 bail and are scheduled to return to court June 23.
