Cops: Gold Flakes Thief Is Hiding Out in LA

New York City police say they believe the opportunistic thief who swiped an 86-pound bucket of gold flakes worth nearly $1.6 million off an armored truck in Manhattan is hiding out on the West Coast. Detectives say the man fled to Orlando, Fla., after the Sept. 29 theft before ultimately landing in California. Police believe he's hiding out in the Los Angeles area with the stolen gold, the AP reports.

The theft occurred in broad daylight and was caught on street surveillance cameras. Police say their suspect is 53-year-old Julio Nivelo, who goes by the names Luis Toledo, David Vargas, and other aliases. They say he's a career thief from New Jersey who has been arrested and deported back to his native Ecuador several times. (More weird crimes stories.)