SOUTH EL MONTE, Calif., July 8 (UPI) -- Three robbers entered a California armored-car office through the roof, tied up employees and stole up to $1 million meant for ATMs, authorities said Friday.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Major Crimes Bureau has taken over the case in South El Monte, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported.
Lt. Kent Wegener said the thieves broke into Commonwealth International Inc. around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, slid down a rope, blindfolded the employees and looted the vault. They left their victims tied up but unhurt.
Sgt. Steve Ruiz said one of the staff managed to call the sheriff around 8:43 p.m. from inside.
Forensic experts are searching the scene for fingerprint and DNA evidence, Wegener said.
"There was a significant amount of money taken. They are doing an audit to determine just how much," said Steve Whitmore, a sheriff's spokesman.
The Los Angeles Times reported Commonwealth is owned by current and former local law enforcement officers.
