CAPE CORAL, Fla. — A carefully planned overnight burglary at a Cape Coral jewelry store ended with more than $500,000 worth of jewelry stolen, along with firearms and personal property, after suspects entered the business by cutting through a neighboring bathroom wall, according to court records.
Investigators say the crime took place in the early morning hours of January 6, 2026, at Tio Jewelers, where three men allegedly carried out the robbery. Court documents indicate the suspects first gained access by breaking into a vacant business next door, then cutting a large hole through the shared bathroom wall to enter the jewelry store undetected.
Once inside, two of the suspects confronted the store manager, assaulting and restraining him with zip ties. Authorities say the men then spent a significant amount of time inside the store, removing more than 1,000 pieces of jewelry with an estimated value exceeding half a million dollars.
In addition to the jewelry, investigators say the suspects stole two firearms from the store and took the manager’s personal Breitling watch, valued at approximately $5,500.
The robbery was discovered after a person with remote access to the store’s surveillance system noticed suspicious activity and contacted police. Officers responding to the scene found the manager restrained but alive inside the store.
Police say the suspects entered the building around 4:50 a.m. and did not leave until the robbery was complete. Surveillance footage and license plate reader data later helped investigators identify a black Infiniti believed to be used as the getaway vehicle.
That evidence led authorities to Ivel Sanchez Rivera, 52, who was arrested and identified as the alleged getaway driver. According to investigators, Sanchez Rivera was later found in possession of one of the firearms stolen during the robbery, further linking him to the crime.
Sanchez Rivera has been charged with:
- Conspiracy to interfere with commerce by violence
- Interference with commerce by violence
- Using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence
Police say the two suspects who entered the store and carried out the robbery have not yet been identified, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The Cape Coral Police Department continues to review surveillance footage and forensic evidence as they work to locate the remaining suspects. Authorities urge anyone with information related to the case or the identities of those involved to contact local law enforcement.
No additional arrests have been announced at this time.
