Crime | jewelry Calif. Thieves Drill Through Wall, Swipe $1M in Jewels Cops believe gang of professionals behind gem heist By Rob Quinn Posted Feb 25, 2010 4:23 AM CST Copied Burglars broke into the store next-door to their target, drilled through the wall, and swiped the loot, cops say. (Shutterstock) Orange County cops are seeking an inventive gang of thieves who bypassed a jewelry store's security system by drilling through a wall from the next store. The crooks, who broke into the vacant store, made off with a safe holding at least $1 million in gems as well as the store's security camera, the Los Angeles Times reports. The thieves—police believe there must have been at least two to carry the 1,000 pound safe—dismantled a metal door to exit through the back of the jewelry store. Authorities are trying to determine whether the thieves are the same gang who made off with $6 million in goods after cutting through the roof of another jewelery store in the area last year. Read These Next NC mom missing for 24 years doesn't want to be found. BBC apologizes after racial slur heard at BAFTAs. Jack Smith's report won't ever see the light of day. FBI chief Kash Patel showed up in the Team USA hockey locker room. Report an error