Around 25-30 masked thugs entered a jewelry store in California in broad daylight Monday afternoon, smashed and grabbed whatever they could and then shot fires as the automatic door of the store locked them in. The entire act of vandalism was caught on camera as while the store lost around $1 million in merchandise. The thugs used crowbars and pickaxes to smash the display cases and grab jewelry.Police said the heist was planned days in advance as the suspects arrived in sex separate vehicles and parked their cars in the valet area 100 feet from the store entrance. A similar robbery took place in the same store in 2023 following which the owners installed an automatic door which locked the thugs inside but they shot their way out.
Robbery followed by high-speed chase
Police initiated a chase after the robbers left in their respective cars after the heist but they called it off when the speed exceeded 100mph. Seven were arrested with help from nearby agencies, drone footage, surveillance cameras, and videos that bystanders took. Three adults and one juvenile were taken into custody in Oakland with assistance from Oakland police. Three other adults were arrested at the Dublin BART station by Alameda County sheriff’s deputies.The suspects range in age from 17 to 31 and are all from Oakland. Police believe they are connected to similar crimes across the Bay Area.Two firearms and some jewelry were recovered, including items that may have been dropped or discarded during the escape. Police say several of the vehicles used in the robbery were reported stolen.
