A family-run jewellery store in West Hollywood, USA, suffered a devastating robbery where all inventory and two safes were looted. The robbers conducted the heist in two trips: one in the early morning and another late at night between June 17 and June 18. Despite having a “state of the art” security system, store owner Robert Goukasian stated that no alarm was triggered during the break-in.
On June 18, Robert Goukasian discovered the damage and recorded a video of the aftermath, which he shared on Instagram. He captioned it, “Our family jewellery store of over 40 years in West Hollywood has been robbed. All gone.” In the comments, he expressed frustration, noting, “The alarm system never triggered despite the fact that many sensors were installed.” Some Instagram users speculated that the robbery might have been an inside job due to the robbers’ knowledge and methodical approach. Others pointed out the vulnerability of wireless security systems to Wi-Fi jammers.
Ten days later, Goukasian shared CCTV footage showing four robbers breaking into a safe and celebrating with high-fives and hugs. Notably, one robber’s face was visible as he wasn’t wearing a mask. Many wondered why the robbers didn’t disable the security cameras and took their time during the robbery, further fueling speculation of an insider job.
Addressing these comments, Goukasian clarified, “Guys, this is not an inside job. We have no employees at all. Our store is run solely by us. It’s my father and mother.” He criticized the security company, stating, “The alarms never went off despite the fact that we had a ‘state of the art’ alarm system with multiple sensors including seismic sensors on the safes. The alarm company ‘Johnson Controls’ referred us to their legal department and has declined a statement. We pay hundreds of dollars a month for our security system.”
According to ABC7 News, detectives are investigating the theft. Despite losing everything in the store, Goukasian expressed determination to restart the business.