Jewelry Worth $100,000 Stolen From Escondido JCPenney

ESCONDIDO, Calif. -- Masked burglars broke into an Escondido JCPenney and took more than $100,000 worth of jewelry Thursday in what is believed to be the latest in a yearlong string of 10 similar burglaries.

The burglars forced their way into the store in the 200 block of East Via Rancho Parkway about 2 a.m., according to police. With gold trading as high a $1,000 per ounce recently, the culprits focused on gold, according to Lt. Craig Carter.

Surveillance video shows three burglars dressed in dark clothes, including gloves and ski masks over their faces, he said.

Investigators believe the same burglars are responsible for at least nine similar burglaries at JCPenney outlets statewide, including one last month in El Cajon, the lieutenant said.

Four burglars were seen on security video in at least one crime, and police suspect the have an outside man, acting as a lookout or getaway driver, according to Carter.

JCPenney losses total more than $2 million, and the department store is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the perpetrators.

Detectives believe a recent burglary at a Sears in Carlsbad may have been committed by the same group of bandits, Carter said.