THIEVES STEAL MAN'S JEWELS AT VALENCIA HOTEL.

Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer

In a heist that has similarities to a string of jewel thefts throughout the state, a Sacramento businessman was robbed Tuesday at gunpoint outside a Valencia hotel near the Golden State Freeway, authorities said.

Sgt. Howard Fairchild of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said two thieves, described as Latino men both about 18 to 20 years old, made off with approximately $200,000 in jewelry.

The victim, whose identity is being withheld because of the nature of his business, had been traveling south on the freeway when he stopped at the Fairfield Inn near Calgrove Boulevard, authorities said.

Fairchild said two men in a black Nissan with dealer paper tags drove up to him as he removed the jewelry from his vehicle.

``The front passenger and rear passenger approached the victim at gunpoint and the suspects took the jewelry bags from him and drove off in an unknown direction,'' said Lt. Daniel Castillo.

The crime is similar to a string of heists believed to have been committed by a gang of jewel thieves who police said consists of about 200 or so former Colombian soldiers and police officers.

That gang is said to be based west of downtown Los Angeles near the city's Jewelry Mart, but investigators said members respect no boundaries.

``It's hard to say if this is connected with the gang,'' Fairchild said. ``Apparently, this victim and his company have been (hit) before. But the way this was done is different than the way the (Colombian gang) does it. In this case, there were just two men and one car. That's not the gang's MO.''

Authorities said the gang members generally travel in more than one vehicle when planning a heist. They surround their target after following him or her from a jewelry show.

Sheriff's deputies said they prefer to recruit men and women who are former Colombian police and military soldiers because they typically are disciplined and steer clear of drugs and alcohol.

Authorities said the gang takes in about $500 million annually. Detective Ben Black of the Los Angeles Police Department's burglary and auto theft division said the surveillance and countersurveillance capabilities of the robbers rival those of police, making it difficult to catch them.

They are also trained in military reconnaissance, which allows them to find and track their victims who are usually jewelry tradesmen and brokers.

``We do believe that the victim in (Tuesday's) case was followed by these two men all the way from Northern California,'' Fairchild said.

``We will continue to have contact with other law enforcement agencies to see if they have any more information as well,'' he said.