Police Nab Jewel Thieves, Recover $100,000 worth of Valuables

By Lookout Staff

Sept. 29 -- Three suspects were arrested by police after making off with an estimated $100,000 worth of items from a Montana Avenue jewelry store Thursday afternoon, police said.

The suspects entered the store in the 1300 block of Montana Avenue at about 1:30 p.m. and posed as potential customers.

One suspect, Manuel Garcia, 58, distracted a store employee while his two accomplices removed items from a locked jewelry case located in the public area of the business, police said. The two other suspects are identified as Ricardo Ratzke, 33, and Nohora Sierra, 46.

The three suspects fled in a blue vehicle that resembled a mini-van, police said. Officers observed the suspects' vehicle in the 1100 block of Georgina Avenue and stopped it.

All three suspects were taken into custody without incident, police said.

The suspects were later booked at the Santa Monica Jail for burglary and conspiracy, police said. Garcia and Ratzke are held with no bail and Sierra’s bail is set at $1 million.