LOS ANGELES (AP) In a stunningly elaborate heist, burglars managed to tunnel through a concrete wall to gain unauthorized access to a prestigious jewelry store in downtown Los Angeles, making off with an estimated $10 million worth of valuable merchandise including luxury watches, pendants, gold chains, and more. This brazen crime took place at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Sunday at Love Jewels, located on Broadway, a bustling thoroughfare in the heart of the city.

According to Officer David Cuellar of the Los Angeles Police Department, investigators are currently sifting through security camera footage to piece together the sequence of events leading up to the theft. Initial reports indicate that the suspects gained entry through a meticulously drilled hole in the wall connecting to the adjacent property. They tunneled through multiple levels of concrete into the target location, Cuellar elaborated on Tuesday, emphasizing the complexity of their operation.

A number of unidentified suspects reportedly fled the scene through the very same hole they had created, escaping in a late model Chevrolet truck. The audacious nature of the heist went unnoticed until store employees arrived for work the following Monday morning, only to discover the theft and the chaos left behind.

While the police have estimated the stolen goods to be worth around $10 million, Love Jewels' owner provided a much higher personal estimate, claiming that the total loss could exceed $20 million. This discrepancy highlights the potential for even more valuables to have been taken, as investigators continue to gather information.

Security footage obtained by local television station KTTV reveals a chilling scene; the sound of a drill can be heard piercing through the stores interior during the heist. Once they gained entry, the burglars acted quickly, cutting the wires to security cameras to prevent their actions from being recorded. Footage from the station also showcased the aftermath of the burglary, including gaping holes in a large safe, disarrayed jewelry cases, and even an empty bottle of Scotch whisky, suggesting that the burglars may have taken a moment to celebrate their success.

On their website, Love Jewels advertises a range of exquisite jewelry pieces, including a 14-karat yellow gold rope chain priced at $1,200, heart-shaped gold earrings at $200, and a gold cross pendant for $550. The store has shared videos on social media platforms showcasing their dazzling displays of rings, watches, and necklaces. However, the glimmer of these beautiful items has been overshadowed by the recent events.

As detectives continue their investigations, they are meticulously examining the scene for any traces of fingerprints or DNA left by the suspects. Meanwhile, phone calls and emails have been dispatched to the store, seeking further information while the community and local authorities come to terms with the audacity of this high-stakes burglary.