California Police Arrest 7 Foreign Nationals in Multi-Million-Dollar Glendale Jewelry Heist

Seven foreign nationals were arrested following their involvement in a highly organized burglary of Bidrussian Jewelry Store in Glendale, California, where thieves cut through the roof, used blowtorches to open safes, and stole millions of dollars' worth of merchandise. After the May 27 burglary, Glendale police launched an investigation and surveillance operation, learning the suspects were planning another heist at Rodeo Jewelers in La Verne. When the group attempted to break in there through the roof on June 29, law enforcement coordinated a multi-agency effort to apprehend seven suspects out of eight observed. The suspects, identified as Jose Millafil, Javier Sepulveda, Cristian Gonzalezaburto, Luka Pazitiani, Vera Matias, Victor Iturriagalopez, and Edson Gonzalez, are believed to have committed similar crimes both in their countries of origin and in the United States. The burglary caused significant damage to the family-owned Glendale business, which has been in operation for over 40 years, and the suspects used signal jammers and cut wires to disable security systems during the attempted second burglary. Authorities are investigating potential connections to other recent jewelry store burglaries in Southern California and encourage anyone with information to contact the Glendale Police Department's Burglary Unit.