In San Ramon, California, police announced on Wednesday that they apprehended at least seven individuals from a group of nearly 25 people who executed a broad daylight heist at a jewelry store on Monday afternoon, making off with merchandise valued at about $1 million.
The crime took place at Heller Jewelers. Police reported that the perpetrators, carrying at least three firearms, barged into the store, shattering display cases with crowbars and pickaxes, and seizing any jewelry in reach.
“They basically took over the store when they entered,” stated Lt. Mike Pistello of the San Ramon Police Department. “They seized whatever jewelry they could access.”
Cellphone footage showed the suspects temporarily trapped inside the store. Authorities noted that one suspect discharged multiple gunshots to shatter the glass door and escape. This door was part of enhanced security measures implemented after a prior robbery in 2023, necessitating a security guard’s assistance to exit.
“What ended up happening was, once the suspects went in, the door locked behind them,” Pistello said.
Dozens of robbery suspects fire shots, ransack San Ramon jewelry store
The police described the robbery as meticulously organized and likely plotted days beforehand. The perpetrators arrived utilizing six vehicles, parking merely 100 feet away from the store in the valet section.
The San Ramon Police Department acknowledged a 2023 organized retail theft grant for facilitating their rapid response. A drone, financed by this grant, was the first to arrive and recorded the suspects fleeing the store and getting into their cars.
“It shows all the suspects’ vehicles, as well as all the suspects leaving and entering their cars to leave,” Pistello said.
Officers initiated a pursuit but called it off when speeds exceeded 100 mph, citing public safety concerns. With help from nearby agencies, drone footage, surveillance cameras, and bystander videos, police arrested seven suspects.
Three adults and one juvenile were taken into custody in Oakland, California 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.
“This is not their first time doing something like this,” Pistello said.
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.
Detectives are working around the clock to identify and arrest the remaining suspects. Pistello said the investigation could take months but expressed confidence that the department would ultimately solve multiple cases tied to the group.
“This is not something that happens a lot in San Ramon,” Pistello said. “We’re doing our best to follow up on every lead possible.”
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