CrimeJul 21, 2022
FBI Investigates Multi-Million-Dollar Brinks Truck Jewel HeistCrimeAug 25, 2022
Jewelers Sue Brink’s After Losing Merchandise in Heist
Brink’s is taking legal action of its own after the parties disagreed about compensation for the missing goods.
The value of the jewels stolen from a Brink’s truck last month is now the subject of two legal actions. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/GeorgHH)
Los Angeles—Twenty-two bags filled with jewelry and watches were stolen from the back of a Brink’s truck near Los Angeles last month.
The value of the stolen goods is now the subject of two legal actions, one filed by the jewelers who were robbed and the other by Brink’s.
The truck was loaded with exhibitors’ merchandise from the International Gem and Jewelry Show, held in San Mateo, California, from July 8-10, and was heading to another show at the Pasadena Convention Center, scheduled for July 15-17.
Along the way, the driver pulled into a Flying J rest stop, where an unknown suspect(s) broke into the locked vehicle, stealing 22 of the 73 bags of jewelry.
The exhibitors reported their losses at more than $100 million and expected to be compensated, but Brink’s calculated the losses at less than $10 million.
Brink’s filed a legal complaint in New York on Aug. 4, seeking a declaratory judgment against the jewelry companies, claiming they “substantially under-declared the value of their shipments on the pickup manifest.”
The manifests for the 22 missing shipments declare a total value of $8.7 million, said Brink’s.
Court documents detail the terms of the contracts with the exhibitors, including a stipulation that customers must declare the actual monetary value of the shipment.
The lawsuit also sheds some light on what happened the night of the robbery.
The two armed guards, named only as Driver 1 and Driver 2 in court documents, left around midnight. Driver 1 drove the truck to the rest stop and left Driver 2 asleep in the truck.
After spending about 30 minutes inside grabbing food, Driver 1 returned to the truck to find the red plastic seal around the trailer was cut, as was the trailer’s rear lock. Driver 2 said he did not see or hear anything unusual.
There were no closed-circuit televisions or other surveillance devices near the parked truck, said Brink’s.
The jewelers who lost goods in the heist filed their lawsuit against Brink’s Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging breach of contract and negligence and asking the court to award them hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.
Additional defendants include the two drivers, a Brink’s sales and show support specialist, and Pilot Flying J, the owner of the Flying J rest stop.
The lawsuit outlines several complaints, including the alleged negligence of Brink’s and the drivers, a hard-to-read contract, misleading advice from a sales specialist regarding insurance, and the failure of the rest stop to provide a safe environment.
The value of the stolen goods is now the subject of two legal actions, one filed by the jewelers who were robbed and the other by Brink’s.
The truck was loaded with exhibitors’ merchandise from the International Gem and Jewelry Show, held in San Mateo, California, from July 8-10, and was heading to another show at the Pasadena Convention Center, scheduled for July 15-17.
Along the way, the driver pulled into a Flying J rest stop, where an unknown suspect(s) broke into the locked vehicle, stealing 22 of the 73 bags of jewelry.
The exhibitors reported their losses at more than $100 million and expected to be compensated, but Brink’s calculated the losses at less than $10 million.
Brink’s filed a legal complaint in New York on Aug. 4, seeking a declaratory judgment against the jewelry companies, claiming they “substantially under-declared the value of their shipments on the pickup manifest.”
The manifests for the 22 missing shipments declare a total value of $8.7 million, said Brink’s.
Court documents detail the terms of the contracts with the exhibitors, including a stipulation that customers must declare the actual monetary value of the shipment.
The lawsuit also sheds some light on what happened the night of the robbery.
The two armed guards, named only as Driver 1 and Driver 2 in court documents, left around midnight. Driver 1 drove the truck to the rest stop and left Driver 2 asleep in the truck.
After spending about 30 minutes inside grabbing food, Driver 1 returned to the truck to find the red plastic seal around the trailer was cut, as was the trailer’s rear lock. Driver 2 said he did not see or hear anything unusual.
There were no closed-circuit televisions or other surveillance devices near the parked truck, said Brink’s.
The jewelers who lost goods in the heist filed their lawsuit against Brink’s Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging breach of contract and negligence and asking the court to award them hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.
Additional defendants include the two drivers, a Brink’s sales and show support specialist, and Pilot Flying J, the owner of the Flying J rest stop.
The lawsuit outlines several complaints, including the alleged negligence of Brink’s and the drivers, a hard-to-read contract, misleading advice from a sales specialist regarding insurance, and the failure of the rest stop to provide a safe environment.
A Brink’s spokesperson said the company does not comment on active litigation.
The lawsuit states: “This action seeks to rectify the wrong Brink’s has heaped on top of the theft its drivers practically invited to happen.”
The plaintiffs took issue with the behavior of the drivers, particularly Driver 1 being asleep in the sleeping berth while on the clock, though Brink’s states in its lawsuit that the driver’s behavior was in line with what U.S. Department of Transportation regulations allow.
Brink’s also did not use a secured armored vehicle, but rather “an 18-wheeler semi-truck/trailer combination” with “an easily defeated lock on the trailer,” court documents state.
Regarding the contract, the suit alleges the terms written on the reverse side of the pickup manifest were illegible, noting the small font size and poor color contrast, and “rife with inconsistent provisions.”
The jewelers also said they had no time to negotiate the terms, as the pickup manifest had to be signed before goods were transported.
As for the issue of underinsurance, the jewelers claim they were advised by a Brink’s employee named in the lawsuit to understate the value of the goods to cut down on shipping costs.
They claim they were not warned that doing so would mean they would be unable to recover the full value of their goods in the event of a loss.
The jewelers also allege they were not told their goods would be left unattended in an unsecure location, which they pin on Flying J parent company Pilot Flying J.
The lawsuit accuses Pilot Flying J of breaching its duty to maintain a secure environment, failing to provide adequate lighting and other security matters, particularly when its rest stops are frequented by many drivers with high-value cargo.
“Brink’s leaving valuable property unattended in a poorly lit, remote location, in a poorly secured trailer parked in a position where access to it could not be observed by the people charged with the very duty of protecting it, amounts to willful misconduct and/or gross negligence that precludes enforcement of any contractual limits that would otherwise benefit Brink’s,” court documents state.
The plaintiffs said they have suffered emotional stress and have been “deprived of the ability to earn a living.”
Many of the jewelers stated in the lawsuit that trade shows are their only source of income, and now they are missing a significant amount of inventory.
The defendants are asking for damages in the amount of $100 million for the direct loss of property and an additional $300 million in damages, as well as attorneys’ fees and other costs related to the lawsuit.
The Latest
EditorsJun 11, 2026
This Was the Best Animal Jewelry in Las Vegas From lions and hippos to snails and fish, Senior Editor Lenore Fedow wrangles her picks for cutest jewelry critters in Las Vegas.
SourcingJun 11, 2026
Grandview Klein, London Jewelers Partner To Cut 63-Carat RoughThe big stone will be fashioned into a 20.26-carat diamond in celebration of the retailer’s 100th anniversary this year.
MajorsJun 11, 2026
Former Cartier Creative Director To Head Chanel’s Jewelry Creation StudioMarie-Laure Cérède will join Chanel as the new director of its jewelry creation studio, starting in October.
Brought to you by
All Eyes on Gold Prices. Alternatives to Look For. And What to BEWARE of in VegasAs gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.
Lab-GrownJun 11, 2026
Smiling Rocks’ ‘Wish Jar’ Generates 100+ Wishes in Las Vegas At the JCK show, the lab-grown diamond brand teamed up with Jewelers for Children to support Make-A-Wish India.
Weekly QuizJun 11, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingJun 11, 2026
Signet Jewelers Exec Joins Diamonds Do Good BoardIlana McCabe is Signet’s vice president of public relations and brand communications.
AuctionsJun 10, 2026
31.62-Carat ‘Azure Blue’ Diamond Sells For $8M+ at Christie’sIt was a banner day for blue gemstones, with another blue diamond topping $8 million and a 41-carat sapphire going for $2.3 million.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
MajorsJun 10, 2026
Saks Global Receives Bankruptcy Court Approval for ReorganizationThe approval means the retailer is on track to exit bankruptcy proceedings this summer.
CollectionsJun 10, 2026
Sylvie Debuts ‘Elevated’ Bridal Collection Inspired By Designer’s RingThe bridal-focused brand is also launching its Custom Atelier this summer, a digital custom design tool for its authorized retailers.
EditorsJun 09, 2026
Q&A: Al Cook on the Lab-Grown ‘Bubble,’ Dwindling Diamond Supply The De Beers Group CEO also discussed tariffs, Desert Diamonds, and the pending sale of De Beers in an interview with Michelle Graff.
MajorsJun 09, 2026
Wilkerson's Russ Whitehouse RetiresThe industry veteran is bringing his 56-year run in the fine jewelry sector to an end.
Events & AwardsJun 09, 2026
Pride Month Panel to Highlight LGBTQ+ Jewelry VoicesThe panel discussion will feature LGBTQ+ leaders across the jewelry, luxury, and creative industries.
CollectionsJun 09, 2026
Marie Lichtenberg’s New Capsule Collection Is a Smash, LiterallyInspired by a locket that got run over, the “Smash” capsule collection reimagines the shape of Lichtenberg’s signature style.
MajorsJun 09, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names Director of Sales for SoutheastThe company has promoted Katherine Whitacre to the role.
MajorsJun 08, 2026
Stuller Expands Selection of Lab-Grown Diamonds, Demi-Fine JewelryThe jewelry manufacturer has added Taylor Swift-esque diamond shapes, and more silver, gold vermeil, and gold-plated jewelry.
SourcingJun 08, 2026
Sally Morrison to Depart De Beers This Summer Morrison has been marketing diamonds on and off since the early 2000s and said she is leaving to “pursue new projects.”
TrendsJun 08, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: June’s Birthstone TrioThose born in June can celebrate with pearl, alexandrite, and moonstone jewelry.
TechnologyJun 08, 2026
Overnight Mountings Launches Ring Builder PlatformThe platform allows retailers to guide clients through a customizable engagement ring buying experience in a branded interface.
IndependentsJun 05, 2026
Pennsylvania Jewelry Store To Close After 79 YearsJim Springer, owner of Dunkelberger’s Fine Jewelry, is heading into retirement.
SurveysJun 05, 2026
Consumers to Cut Back on Spending Amid Rising Prices, Survey Shows When conducting its May consumer confidence survey, The Conference Board asked extra questions about consumers’ budgeting strategies.
CollectionsJun 05, 2026
Rebel Jewelry’s Charm Symbolizes Perseverance for Pride MonthThe “Tunnel” charm, our Piece of the Week, celebrates Pride Month with its design inspired by hope and the light at the end of the tunnel.
SourcingJun 05, 2026
State of Diamonds: The Way Forward for Natural DiamondsThe jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.
AuctionsJun 04, 2026
Treasures from Maurice Tempelsman’s ‘Marvelous’ Life Head to AuctionUp for auction at Sotheby’s, the collection of Tempelsman’s personal effects includes a Cartier Tank watch Jackie O. gifted him.
CollectionsJun 04, 2026
Buddha Mama to Spend the Summer in AspenThe Miami-based fine jewelry brand will host its first summer residency in the Colorado mountain town from June 5 to Aug. 23.
MajorsJun 04, 2026
AGS Honors Late Peter Yantzer, Holds Time Capsule CeremonyThe organization also announced its international board of directors for the 2026-2027 term.
MajorsJun 04, 2026
Neiman Marcus’ Downtown Dallas Store to Close in SeptemberSaks Global confirmed the closure this week, spelling the end for a store that’s been part of downtown Dallas for more than 100 years.
