Highlights:
- Masked gang stole $1.7 million worth of gold and diamonds in a minute-long robbery.
- The targeted store, Kumar Jewelers, is owned by an Indian-American family.
- Robbers used hammers and backpacks to smash display cases and grab jewelry.
- Four suspects were arrested after a police chase, but many remain at large.
- The suspects reportedly escaped in multiple stolen vehicles to evade police.
A dramatic smash-and-grab robbery at a jewelry store in Fremont, California, has gone viral after surveillance footage revealed how a masked gang stole jewelry worth about $1.7 million in just over a minute.
The robbery targeted Kumar Jewelers, a store owned by an Indian-American family. According to authorities, the group stormed into the shop armed with tools and backpacks, smashing glass display cases and quickly collecting gold and diamond jewelry before fleeing the scene.
The incident occurred on June 18 last year, but the footage was recently released by the United States Department of Justice as part of the investigation. Officials said the store lost approximately 75 to 80 percent of its inventory during the robbery, making it one of the most significant jewelry thefts reported in the area.
The surveillance video shows several masked individuals rushing into the store with picks and hammers. Within seconds, they began shattering glass cases and grabbing valuables. Working with alarming speed, the robbers stuffed the jewelry into backpacks before escaping. Authorities estimate that the entire operation lasted just over a minute.
Investigators say the suspects used multiple stolen vehicles to escape, driving in different directions to make it harder for law enforcement to track them. Because the cars had been stolen, license plate reader systems were unable to link them directly to the suspects involved in the crime.
Police eventually pursued one of the vehicles, a black Acura, after officers had to quickly decide which car to follow. According to federal prosecutors, the vehicle led officers on a high-speed chase through residential neighborhoods in Fremont.
During the pursuit, the driver reportedly drove recklessly, passing other vehicles on the wrong side of the road, running multiple stop signs, and reaching speeds of about 80 miles per hour while weaving across lanes. The chase ultimately led to the arrest of several suspects.
Authorities later identified and arrested four individuals in connection with the robbery: Afatupetaiki Faasisila, Jose Herrada-Aragon, Andres Palestino, and Tom Parker Donegan. The suspects are between 19 and 20 years old. However, officials said most of the people involved in the robbery remain at large.
Two of the suspects, Faasisila and Palestino, were later released, while the investigation into the broader group continues.
The video of the robbery has circulated widely on social media, prompting discussions about the rise of organized retail theft in the United States. Many online commenters pointed to similar incidents where groups of individuals quickly target stores and leave within minutes.
Authorities have not disclosed the total number of suspects believed to have participated in the crime, but investigators say efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend those still involved.
Law enforcement officials are urging anyone with information related to the robbery to come forward as the investigation continues.
