Car Burglarized : Speedy Thief Tanks Up on Jewelry, Runs

An estimated $90,000 in jewelry was stolen from a locked car at a Granada Hills service station while the car’s owner briefly left it untended to pay for gas, Los Angeles police said Thursday.

Police said the thief smashed a window of the car, grabbed a briefcase containing the jewelry--mostly topaz gemstones--then fled on foot from the service station at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. No arrests have been made.

The burglary took place at an Arco station and mini-market on busy Balboa Boulevard at Rinaldi Street, police said. Police refused to identify the victim, a 43-year-old jewelry dealer who often carries valuable gemstones.

“There is the possibility that he had been followed or someone was aware of his profession and saw the opportunity to take him down,” said Police Lt. L.A. Durrer, commander of Devonshire Division detectives.

Heading Home

The victim had spent the day working in downtown Los Angeles and was on his way to his home near Granada Hills when he stopped to get gas, Durrer said.

“He pulled up to get gas and left his briefcase containing the jewelry on the seat of his car,” Durrer said. “He locked the car even though he was only going to be away for a few minutes when he went in by the cash register.”

After putting gas in the car, the jewelry dealer went in the station’s store to pay, Durrer said. While he was inside, the thief smashed the window and took the briefcase, Durrer said.

The victim did not hear his car being broken into and walked out of the store to find the briefcase and jewelry gone, Durrer said. Witnesses told police that the thief ran from the station on foot. It was unclear whether he had a car waiting nearby, Durrer said.