THOUSAND OAKS : Deputies Find Car Used in Jewel Theft

Sheriff’s deputies found a stolen automobile on Tuesday believed to be the getaway car in last week’s $100,000 jewel robbery from the Best store in Thousand Oaks.

The late-model Hyundai, which had been reported stolen in Los Angeles, was dusted for fingerprints, said Lt. Bill Montijo of the East County Sheriff’s station near Simi Valley. Deputies have no suspects, Montijo said.

Three men robbed the jewelry counter of the Best store at the Janss Mall in Thousand Oaks at 7:50 p.m. Friday, holding several customers and employees at gunpoint with a semi-automatic handgun, Montijo said.

The three left the store and drove directly to the service station half a mile away, where they left the car, Montijo said.

A station attendant found the car on Saturday morning, but thought it had been left by a customer for repairs. The attendant moved the car out of the way and waited for the owner to call.

When no one had called by Tuesday, station employees contacted police, Montijo said. Deputies found jewelry boxes and some jewelry in the car, but Montijo had no estimates of their value.