Biggest Cash Theft in Los Angeles History: Mateo Street Incident

TFD – Explore the fascinating tale of the biggest cash theft in Los Angeles history, involving $18.9 million taken from the Mateo Street location once home to Dunbar Armored Inc. Delve into the investigation led by law enforcement agencies like the FBI and LAPD.

Up to $30 million was taken from a money storage facility in the San Fernando Valley, prompting the FBI and LAPD to launch one of the biggest cash heists in the city’s history, a law enforcement source briefed on the case told CNN on Thursday.

The unidentified facility, which handles and stores cash from businesses around the San Fernando Valley, was the target of a break-in on Easter Sunday night, according to the source.

The incident was initially reported by The Los Angeles Times.

The FBI’s Los Angeles office informed CNN on Thursday that they are collaborating with the Los Angeles Police Department to investigate “a large theft” in the San Fernando Valley. However, they would not release any other information, citing an ongoing investigation. The FBI was contacted by the LAPD for all comments.

The insider claimed that because the burglars were able to enter the building and the vault without setting off the alarms, detectives think the group is very skilled at avoiding detection. The source claimed the crime was uncovered on Monday and that one area of focus for the investigation is if the group had inside knowledge of the facility.

According to the source, the facility was run by the private security company GardaWorld. CNN has contacted the business to inquire about the incident.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the biggest cash theft in the city’s history occurred on September 12, 1997, when $18.9 million was taken from the Mateo Street location that once housed the Dunbar Armored Inc. plant. Eventually, the suspects were apprehended.