LOS ANGELES, July 12 (UPI) -- The robbers in a $1 million heist in the Los Angeles area used an elaborate ruse to get into an armored car firm's vault, law enforcement officials say.
The three robbers who broke through the roof of the Commonwealth International building in South El Monte Thursday allegedly jumped the manager of the armored car business, blindfolded him, and made him coax two employees into the vault, claiming there had been a false alarm, a law enforcement official told the Los Angeles Times.
The official also said the robbers claimed to have shown up because of the false alarm and told the manager police would be arriving shortly. It was unclear as to whether or not they were posing as police officers.
The robbers began the heist at 7:30 p.m., and once in the vault, they took about 20 minutes to drag the cash to a car outside, said Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lt. Ken Wegener.
Wegener also said the company, which handles cash for hundreds of automated teller machines throughout Los Angeles, had security cameras; however, the robbers may have accessed them, removing any footage with them on it.
