Fact Check: "The heist involved a Brinks truck carrying $100 million in jewels!"
What We Know
In July 2022, a group of seven men from Southern California executed what federal prosecutors have termed "the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history." They allegedly stole approximately $100 million worth of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and luxury watches from a Brinks armored truck as it was leaving an international jewelry show in San Mateo, California. The suspects tracked the truck for about 300 miles to a rest stop in Lebec, California, where they stole 24 bags from the vehicle while the drivers were away NPR, BBC.
The U.S. Attorney's Office confirmed that the heist involved a Brinks truck and that the stolen items were indeed valued at around $100 million. The indictment details how the suspects scouted the truck over several days and planned the robbery meticulously, leading to their eventual charges of conspiracy and theft Washington Post, NBC Los Angeles.
Analysis
The claim that a Brinks truck was involved in a heist of $100 million in jewels is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The Department of Justice has officially labeled this incident as the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history, and the details provided in the indictment corroborate the specifics of the theft, including the value of the stolen items and the method of execution.
The sources reporting on this incident, including NPR, BBC, and the Washington Post, are reputable news organizations known for their journalistic standards. They provide consistent accounts of the events, including the tracking of the truck, the theft at a rest stop, and the subsequent charges against the suspects. The reliability of these sources is bolstered by their established credibility and the official nature of the statements from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
While some details, such as how the thieves gained access to the truck, remain unclear, the core claim about the involvement of a Brinks truck and the $100 million value of the stolen jewels is well-supported by the evidence presented in the indictments and news reports ABC7 Chicago, USA Today.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that the heist involved a Brinks truck carrying $100 million in jewels is accurate. Multiple credible sources confirm the details of the heist, including the value of the stolen items and the involvement of a Brinks armored truck. The thorough reporting and official statements from law enforcement agencies lend significant weight to the validity of this claim.
Sources
- 7 California men indicted in largest U.S. jewelry heist
- Seven California men charged in 'largest jewellery heist' in US ... - BBC
- 7 charged in $100 million California jewelry heist
- Suspects charged in $100M LA County Brinks truck jewel heist - NBC Los ...
- California men charged in $100M jewelry heist involving ...
- 7 CA men indicted in $100M jewelry heist in 2022 of Brinks truck ...
- Feds charge 7 men in connection to $100M jewelry heist ...
- 7 SoCal men charged in $100M Brinks truck heist in Lebec, largest ...