Brazen Jewelry Heist in California Nets $1.7 Million in Loot
Fremont, California – Surveillance footage released by the U.S. Department of Justice reveals a meticulously planned and executed jewelry store robbery at Kumar Jewelers in Fremont, California, last June. The heist, which lasted just 70 seconds, resulted in the theft of approximately $1.7 million worth of merchandise – more than three-quarters of the store’s total stock.
The incident unfolded when nearly a dozen masked individuals descended upon the Indian-American owned jewelry store, arriving in a fleet of getaway cars. Footage shows suspects smashing glass display cases with hammers and pickaxes while others quickly gathered necklaces and entire display racks, filling their arms before sprinting to waiting vehicles.
During the robbery, two armed suspects held the store’s security guard hostage until all the perpetrators had fled.
Authorities pursued one vehicle, a black Acura, through residential areas of Fremont. The pursuit involved reckless driving, including passing vehicles on the wrong side of the road, running stop signs, and reaching speeds of 80 miles per hour. Following a crash and a subsequent foot chase, police arrested four men, aged between 19 and 20. No other suspects have been detained.
Federal prosecutors are investigating a potential link between this robbery and a similar heist that occurred three months later in San Ramon, California, where approximately $1.28 million worth of jewelry was stolen.
The brazen nature of the robbery and the speed with which it was carried out have drawn attention to the increasing problem of organized retail crime in the United States. The U.S. Department of Justice’s release of the footage underscores the seriousness with which law enforcement is treating these incidents.