The Region : Fencing Discovery Hinted

Thousands of bracelets, watches and rings were found when a police investigation of a $150,000 jewelry store robbery led to discovery of a possible fencing operation, officials said. Five people were arrested. The robbery occurred at Roberts Jewelers on Riverside Drive in the Sherman Oaks area. Three bandits entered, brandishing a handgun, and took an estimated $150,000 worth of jewelry, Los Angeles Police Sgt. Ted Hanson said. Police later arrested Sabrina Marie Phillips, 24; Ricci Valle Davis, 26, and Leroy Belle, 43. They were booked for investigation of robbery. Further investigation led detectives to a jewelry business in downtown Los Angeles, where they found the thousands of pieces of jewelry, including items allegedly taken in the Roberts holdup, Hanson said. Police Officer Rod Bernsen said “an apparent fencing operation” was being run at the downtown business. An estimate of the value of the jewelry there was not available, police said. Mahmoudd Shapori, 28, and Hosslin Shapori, 27, were arrested; the two brothers were booked for investigation of receiving stolen property.