Thief in “Ocean’s Eleven” Style Drills Hole in Store Roof, Steals $600K Worth of Wine

• A thief cunningly broke into a wine store in Los Angeles by skillfully drilling a hole in the roof, as reported by the store owner.
• Utilizing an ingenious method, they descended into the wine cellar using a rope and made off with valuable bottles of wine, according to reports.
• The store’s owner informed the Los Angeles Times that approximately $600,000 worth of wine and liquor was stolen.

Authorities in California are currently investigating a remarkable theft at a prestigious wine store. According to the store, a skilled burglar managed to infiltrate the establishment by meticulously drilling a hole in the roof. Using a rope, they then expertly descended into the cellar, successfully escaping with a collection of expensive wine bottles and liquor.

Captured surveillance footage from Lincoln Fine Wines, situated in Los Angeles’ Venice neighborhood, documents the beginning of the break-in, which occurred around midnight last Friday, as reported by CNN.

The wine store shared a video on Instagram, showcasing a masked individual wearing a black hoodie, a red baseball cap, and red gloves. This person can be seen climbing on storage containers to gain access to the roof.

Describing the incident, store owner Nazmul Haque told the Los Angeles Times that the intruder skillfully cut through the ceiling, leaving behind a five-by-three-foot hole, before descending into the wine cellar.

The burglary lasted approximately four hours, during which the thief targeted the most valuable bottles, disregarding more accessible ones such as Dom Pérignon Champagne, as revealed by the LA Times.

The perpetrator triggered a sensor around 4 a.m., prompting Haque to rush to the store. Upon arrival, he discovered shattered glass, empty shelves, and abandoned crates, as reported by the LA Times.

In total, over 600 bottles were stolen, corresponding to around 60% of the store’s high-end stock. The estimated loss amounts to approximately $600,000 worth of wine and liquor according to Haque, as reported by ABC 7 News.

Nick Martinelle, the store’s manager, described many of the stolen bottles as “irreplaceable,” comparing the theft to a scene from the movie “Ocean’s Eleven,” stating, “We just couldn’t believe it,” during an interview with CNN.

Haque also expressed his disbelief, stating, “It is very hard for me to digest. All my hard work snatched within a couple of hours,” as reported by CNN.

The incident is currently under investigation by the Los Angeles police, as revealed by CNN.

Neither Lincoln Fine Wines nor the Los Angeles Police Department immediately responded to Insider’s requests for comment.