Two men and a juvenile were arrested Wednesday in connection with a smash-and-grab robbery at a store in Beverly Hills in which about $5 million worth of jewelry was stolen.
Beverly Hills Police Department and FBI tactical teams conducted simultaneous warrant services at three locations in Long Beach Wednesday, arresting Deshon Bell, 20, and a juvenile whose name was not released because of his age, according to Lt. Giovanni Trejo, the BHPD’s public information officer.
Jimmy Lee Vernon, 31, of Gardena, was arrested overnight by California Highway Patrol officers during a traffic stop in Barstow. He was arrested and booked at the BHPD station per a federal criminal complaint for robbery, Trejo said.
A fourth suspect, Ladell Tharpe, 36, of Los Angeles, was in custody on an unrelated offense. He has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with robbery.
Evidence connecting the suspects to the South Beverly Drive robbery was recovered Wednesday, Trejo said.
The robbery occurred at on March 22 at Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills in the 200 block of South Beverly Drive, slightly more than one block south of Wilshire Boulevard.
Up to six suspects shattered the front windows with sledgehammers and fled the scene with several items from the store, police said.
The investigation into the robbery is ongoing and police said they believe there are additional suspects. Anyone with information on the robbery was asked to call the BHPD at 310-285-2125.
Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.
