A jewelry kiosk located inside the Soriana supermarket at Plaza Caracol was robbed overnight, with the owner reporting losses between 300,000 and 400,000 pesos. The theft was discovered early Saturday morning, November 8, when staff arrived to open the store and found forced display cases. Authorities were immediately notified, and the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation.
According to initial reports, the damage to the cases suggests a planned and methodical break-in, rather than a chaotic smash-and-grab.
Local outlets describe the business as a small island-style kiosk near Soriana’s main entrance. Police collected an initial report at the scene and alerted state investigators to review mall security footage and determine the suspects’ entry and exit routes.
The kiosk owner told police that gold jewelry pieces were stolen, though the final loss figure may change after a complete inventory. Shoppers and employees arriving later that morning saw broken locks and open cases, while police worked to secure the area.
It remains unclear whether the kiosk had alarms or after-hours security provided by the mall. So far, no arrests have been made, and investigators have not disclosed whether security cameras captured the break-in.
By Saturday afternoon, the case was formally taken over by the State Prosecutor’s Office, standard procedure for property crimes inside commercial centers. Detectives are expected to review footage from corridors, exits, and loading zones to trace how the intruders entered and escaped.
The kiosk owner filed a formal complaint, allowing investigators to access additional surveillance and nearby private camera footage from before closing and after reopening. As of publication, no suspect or vehicle descriptions had been released.
Mall security at Plaza Caracol is once again under scrutiny. Overnight patrols in large shopping centers can be limited, and thieves often target kiosks with simple locks and minimal surveillance, relying on speed and silence. Authorities have not confirmed whether tools were left behind or if the locks were cleanly pried open, details that could help establish the timeline.
Despite the incident, Plaza Caracol and Soriana remained open on Saturday, with only the affected kiosk taped off as police took statements and staff reviewed inventory.
If the estimated loss holds near 400,000 pesos, the theft would equal dozens of small gold chains and rings, depending on their weight and purity. Such value typically determines which investigative unit leads the case and whether forensic resources—like fingerprint analysis or access-log reviews—are deployed.
This is not the first jewelry theft reported at Plaza Caracol this year. In March, two armed men robbed another jewelry store in the same plaza during business hours, escaping with 1.5 to 2 million pesos in merchandise. That case prompted questions about security staffing and camera coverage within the complex.
Saturday’s robbery appears to differ, occurring after hours and involving forced entry rather than armed confrontation. Still, both incidents raise concerns about the mall’s security layers—locked cases, alarms, and overnight monitoring.
For now, the plaza continues operating normally, while investigators work to trace the suspects’ movements and determine whether they had inside knowledge of the mall’s layout and security routines.
Authorities are urging anyone who was near the Soriana entrance late Friday or early Saturday and noticed unusual activity—such as open doors, unfamiliar vehicles, or suspicious movements—to come forward with information.
The unanswered questions remain: How did the thieves gain entry without being detected? Did they scout the kiosk beforehand? And most importantly, how quickly can stolen gold be traced before it disappears into resale networks?
The answers will reveal whether this was an isolated burglary or part of a larger pattern of targeted thefts inside Puerto Vallarta’s shopping centers.