{"id":200156,"date":"2026-03-02T05:45:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T05:45:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/200156\/"},"modified":"2026-03-02T05:45:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T05:45:18","slug":"chilean-burglary-crew-records-themselves-during-3-million-california-heist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/200156\/","title":{"rendered":"Chilean burglary crew records themselves during $3 million California heist"},"content":{"rendered":"

A burglary crew consisting of four Chilean nationals,\u00a0three\u00a0of whom were recently sentenced, took video of themselves breaking into a Southern California jewelry store and\u00a0going through the\u00a0stolen goods, officials revealed.<\/p>\n

The footage, posted by the Ventura County District Attorney\u2019s Office<\/a>, shows the four perpetrators \u201cdocumenting their own crime.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of them even flashed a peace sign at the camera with a flashlight in his mouth while taking a break from smashing the wall with a crowbar.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe video\u2026was recorded by the defendants on their own cell phone, showing them breaking into the safe and later at their L.A. County apartment\u00a0going through the stolen property and sorting it,\u201d\u00a0the DA\u2019s Office said on social media.<\/p>\n

\"One<\/a><\/p>\n

One of them even flashed a peace sign at the camera with a flashlight in his mouth while taking a break from smashing the wall with a crowbar. (IG\/@venturacountyda)<\/p>\n

The break-in occurred at 5 Star Jewelry and Watch Repair in Simi Valley on\u00a0May 25.<\/p>\n

KTLA spoke with the store owner<\/a>, Jonathan Youssef, shortly after the incident, and he said his family-owned business was devastated by the\u00a0burglary, where cash and jewels were stolen.<\/p>\n

It was later revealed by the Ventura County District Attorney\u2019s Office that the four suspects\u00a0\u2013 25-year-old Heidy\u00a0Nickolt\u00a0Trujilo, 31-year-old Camilo Antonio Aguilar Lara, 27-year-old Sergio Andres Mej\u00eda-Machuca and\u00a037-year-old\u00a0Manuel David Ibarra \u2013\u00a0had canvassed the area previously, entering Dr. Conkey\u2019s Candy and Coffee, an establishment\u00a0adjacent to 5 Star Jewelry and Watch.<\/p>\n

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According to the DA\u2019s Office,\u00a0Trujillo,\u00a0Lara, Mej\u00eda-Machuca and Ibarra peered through windows and looked for surveillance cameras, also\u00a0inspecting the wall that adjoins the jewelry store. Five days later, they returned with a ladder, rope and tools that were used to break\u00a0in to\u00a0Dr. Conkey\u2019s and gain access to 5 Star Jewelry and Watch.<\/p>\n

One suspect also\u00a0spray\u00a0painted a security camera\u00a0in an attempt to\u00a0cover it up.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A thief crawls on his stomach to avoid motion detection sensors while robbing an adjacent jewelry store in Simi Valley. May 25, 2025.<\/p>\n

\"Jonathan<\/p>\n

Jonathan Youssef points to a hole that was drilled by thieves who ransacked his jewelry store in Simi Valley on May 25, 2025.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Chilean burglary crew is accused of stealing over $3 million worth of jewelry, watches, cash and valuables from a Simi Valley jewelry store on May 25, 2025. (Ventura County District Attorney\u2019s Office)<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Chilean burglary crew is accused of stealing over $3 million worth of jewelry, watches, cash and valuables from a Simi Valley jewelry store on May 25, 2025. (Ventura County District Attorney\u2019s Office)<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Chilean burglary crew is accused of stealing over $3 million worth of jewelry, watches, cash and valuables from a Simi Valley jewelry store on May 25, 2025. (Ventura County District Attorney\u2019s Office)<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Chilean burglary crew is accused of stealing over $3 million worth of jewelry, watches, cash and valuables from a Simi Valley jewelry store on May 25, 2025. (Ventura County District Attorney\u2019s Office)<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Chilean burglary crew is accused of stealing over $3 million worth of jewelry, watches, cash and valuables from a Simi Valley jewelry store on May 25, 2025. (Ventura County District Attorney\u2019s Office)<\/p>\n

\"5<\/p>\n

5 Star Jewelry & Watch repair and Dr. Conkey\u2019s Candy and Coffee shop in Simi Valley. (Ventura County District Attorney\u2019s Office)<\/p>\n

After ransacking the store, the group was able to escape with about $3 million worth of jewelry, watches,\u00a0cash\u00a0and other valuables. The DA\u2019s Office explained that they took the stolen goods to a home in L.A. County before being found and arrested on June 10<\/a>. Some of the\u00a0suspects were\u00a0reportedly wearing\u00a0some of the stolen property when they were taken into custody.<\/p>\n

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All four were charged with\u00a0a slew of crimes, including felony counts of conspiracy to commit commercial burglary and possession of stolen\u00a0property.<\/p>\n

They all pleaded guilty in January; Ibarra and Lara were each sentenced to four years and four months in jail, and Trujillo got a four-year sentence.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

The suspects, from left: Sergio Andres Mej\u00eda-Machuca, 27; Heidy Nickolt Trujillo, 25; Camilo Antonio Aguliar Lara, 31; and Manuel David Ibarra, 37. (Ventura County District Attorney\u2019s Office)<\/p>\n

Mej\u00eda-Machuca\u2019s sentencing hearing\u00a0was continued\u00a0to\u00a0March 26.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe planning, surveillance, and sophistication involved in this case required the defendants\u2019 removal from society,\u201d said Ventura County District Attorney Erik\u00a0Nasarenko. \u201cVentura County will not tolerate organized burglary crews that treat our communities like targets.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you engage in this kind of conduct, you will face significant consequences,\u201d\u00a0Nasarenko concluded.<\/p>\n

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. <\/a><\/p>\n