Share this @internewscast.com
Close to 24 suspects, some wielding weapons, audaciously raided a jewelry store in California during a smash-and-grab heist, highlighting the ongoing issue of organized retail theft in the region.
Security cameras at Heller Jewelers, located in San Ramon in the Bay Area, recorded a group of masked individuals invading the store on Monday, where they shattered display cases using hammers and pickaxes, according to officials.
They made off with around $1 million in merchandise, the San Ramon Police Department said.
The California jewelry retailer was the scene of a robbery this past Monday, as reported by the police. Nearly 24 individuals rushed into Heller Jewelers, making away with an estimated $1 million in goods.
Video footage from Kim Hung Jewelry revealed the suspects reversing an SUV through the store’s glass facade before over a dozen intruders dashed in to seize items from the showcases.
California launched its own Organized Retail Crime Task Force to combat large-scale retail thefts.
In 2025, a task force directed by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) conducted over 700 arrests and reclaimed nearly 150,000 stolen goods valued at $8 million by August.
“We are determined to dismantle criminal networks that target California’s businesses and compromise public safety. We value the efforts of our statewide law enforcement partners in capturing these offenders,” stated California Gov. Gavin Newsom during the period.
