At approximately 4:45 this morning, the Ben Bridges Jewelry Store in the Valenica Town Center was burglarized….

Sheriff’s say there were two suspects who got away with at least $50 to $60 thousand worth of jewelry.  Sheriff’s deputies responded promptly.

A maintenance worker saw two males in ski masks breaking display cases at the location. He alerted mall Public Safety, who in turn called the Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff’s deputies set up a containment around the mall, and searched for the suspects with K-9 units, taking precaution that the suspects may be armed.  No traffic or people were allowed in or out until about 8:20 this morning, when the mall returned to normal operations.

Traffic was not affected on surrounding surface streets because of the incident, yet numerous news helicopters hovered to cover the story.

An investigation of security cameras and other sources will continue.  If you have any information, please call the Sheriff’s Department at (661) 255-1121.