In one of Los Angeles’ biggest cash robberies to date, thieves fled with an estimated $30 million during an Easter Sunday break-in at a money storage facility in the San Fernando Valley, as confirmed by a senior official from the L.A. Police Department.
The incident unfolded last week at a site in Sylmar, where cash from businesses across the area is processed and safeguarded, according to L.A. Police Department Cmdr. Elaine Morales.
What happened?
Details regarding the ongoing investigation have been scarce, with both L.A. police and the FBI maintaining tight-lipped stances. However, Cmdr. Morales disclosed to The Los Angeles Times, which initially reported the crime, that the burglars successfully breached the money storage facility in the suburban neighborhood of Sylmar and managed to penetrate the safe holding the cash.
Reports from various media outlets identified the targeted facility as belonging to GardaWorld, a renowned global cash management and security company.
Law enforcement officials were alerted to the incident when a call for assistance came in at 4:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday. Aerial footage from KABC-TV displayed a substantial breach on the side of the building, which seemed to have been hastily covered with plywood.
Morales confirmed that the perpetrators not only infiltrated the building but also accessed the secure area where the money was stored. Sources familiar with the investigation informed LA Times that the burglary crew gained entry by breaking through the roof of the GardaWorld building on Roxford Street, yet it remains unclear how they circumvented the alarm system.
How much is $30 million in cash?
The sheer magnitude of the stolen cash, estimated at $30 million, poses logistical challenges in terms of transportation and concealment. Although law enforcement officials have refrained from divulging specifics regarding the stolen currency, the weight of such a substantial sum, regardless of denomination, would present considerable hurdles.
Major heists in US history?
This heist ranks among the largest in U.S. history, paralleling notorious incidents such as the 1997 armed robbery of nearly $19 million at the Los Angeles Dunbar Armored Co. depot. It should be noted that the perpetrators of that robbery, aided by a former employee, managed to evade justice for years, with a significant portion of the stolen funds remaining unrecovered.
While not a cash heist, a notable incident from nearly two years ago involved the theft of approximately $100 million worth of jewels and valuables from a Brink’s truck at a Southern California truck stop, with the culprits still at large.
