A shocking video shows a huge mob of masked thieves storming a California jewelry store and making off with around $1 million in merchandise.
The mob of up to 30 crooks was caught on surveillance footage as they ran up to the store in broad daylight Monday, September 22, in San Ramon, around 34 miles east of San Francisco.
They used crowbars and pickaxes to smash the display cases and snatch jewelry after which they rushed out when a security door automatically tried to lock them inside.
“When they went in, they basically took over the store. Basically taking whatever jewelry was available,” Lt. Mike Pistello from the San Ramon PD told ABC 7 News.
“What ended up happening was, once the suspects went in, the door locked behind them,” Pistello said of a security upgrade since a previous robbery in 2023.
The raid was likely planned days in advance, police said, as the suspects arrived in six separate vehicles and parked in the valet area 100 feet from the store entrance.
Cops said at least 20 people were involved, whereas witnesses told ABC 7 they counted 30.
Cops were able to get footage of the suspects fleeing using a drone funded by a 2023 organized retail theft grant.
“It shows all the suspects’ vehicles, as well as all the suspects leaving and entering their cars to leave,” Pistello said.
Police have since arrested seven suspects, including one juvenile, in two separate raids in Oakland and nearby Dublin, California.
The suspects, all from Oakland, range in age from 17 to 31 and are suspected of involvement in similar crimes across the Bay Area, police have said.
Two firearms and some of the stolen jewelry believed to have been dropped or discarded during the escape has been recovered, while several of the vehicles using in the robbery were reported stolen, according to police
“This is not their first time doing something like this,” Pistello said. “This is not something that happens a lot in San Ramon. We’re doing our best to follow up on every lead possible.”
Watch a video from the robbery operation below.
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