Southern California authorities announced the arrest of six men suspected of committing multiple “smash-and-grab” robberies targeting a jewelry chain in Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Riverside County. The suspects are alleged to have carried out 12 violent robberies since May.
On August 9 at around 2:15 p.m., a robbery occurred at the Don Roberto Jewelers in Palm Desert, Riverside County, prompting law enforcement to launch an investigation.
Police eventually arrested the six suspects, ranging in age from 20 to 41, from Los Angeles, Lancaster, and Rosamond, during September. Riverside County officials stated, “Multiple witnesses reported that four masked men entered the store, armed with sledgehammers, smashed multiple display cases, looted over $87,000 worth of goods, and fled the scene.”
After the Robbery and Burglary Task Force took over the investigation, they found that the Palm Desert case was just one of the 12 violent robberies targeting the same jewelry chain.
Aside from the jewelry store incidents, authorities mentioned that two of the suspects are also implicated in several commercial thefts in Los Angeles County.
The six suspects are currently detained at the Benoit Detention Center in Indio, facing charges including robbery, intentional destruction, grand theft, burglary, aggravated theft, and conspiracy.
On September 22 at around 1:50 p.m., a jewelry robbery occurred in San Ramon, about 35 miles east of San Francisco.
Approximately 20 masked suspects stormed into the Heller Jewelers on Bollinger Canyon Road, smashing display cases and taking a large number of items.
San Ramon Police Department stated that several suspects were armed with guns, and at least one suspect fired a shot at the entrance. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident.
The suspects escaped in several vehicles pre-deployed in the downtown valet parking area. While police attempted to pursue, they eventually decided to halt the chase for public safety. Air support units later took over and successfully tracked the suspects’ movements.
Authorities mentioned that the aerial team followed the suspects from Contra Costa County all the way to Alameda County. Eventually, several suspects were apprehended in Oakland and Dublin.
Furthermore, in an earlier incident on September 5, a group of masked culprits robbed the Kim Hung Jewelry store in San Jose, Northern California, in broad daylight. The 88-year-old shop owner was injured, incurring an estimated loss of around $100,000 excluding medical expenses.
Surveillance footage revealed a gray SUV parked in front of the store, reversing into the entrance, shattering the large glass window and knocking down the metal gate. About 15 masked men then swiftly entered the small jewelry store, wielding small hammers and handbags, aggressively smashing countertops and display windows before looting the items inside.
Edward Escobar, founder of the Local Community Alliance, criticized these robbery incidents as a new norm. He condemned Governor Newsom for letting illegal criminal activities “run rampant” and called for accountability for the leadership’s failed policies.