Why is it always California?
Federal authorities say a coordinated “robbery crew” turned a Northern California jewelry store into a smash-and-grab crime scene, escaping with roughly $1.7 million worth of merchandise in just over a minute.
Surveillance footage released by the U.S. Department of Justice shows the brazen June 18, 2025 heist at Kumar Jewelers. Investigators described the raid as a “mob-style takeover.”
Video shows multiple vehicles screeching to a stop outside the store before nearly two dozen masked suspects in dark hoodies rushed inside.
Armed with picks and hammers and carrying backpacks, the group smashed display cases and rapidly stuffed gold and diamond jewelry into their bags.
Authorities say the thieves cleared out roughly 75 to 80 percent of the store’s inventory before fleeing.
The entire robbery lasted about 70 seconds.
The suspects then jumped into several stolen getaway cars and sped off in different directions, complicating the investigation because the vehicles could not easily be traced through license-plate readers.
Police pursued one vehicle, a black Acura, which led officers on a chase through residential areas of Fremont.
According to federal court filings, the car reached speeds of around 80 miles per hour, drove into oncoming lanes of traffic, and ran multiple stop signs during the pursuit.
Authorities later arrested four suspects tied to the alleged robbery: Afatupetaiki Faasisila, Jose Herrada-Aragon, Andres Palestino, and Tom Parker Donegan, who were around 19 or 20 years old at the time.
Court records show Faasisila and Palestino were later released while the case remains pending.
Most of the suspects involved in the robbery are still at large as investigators continue to search for the remaining members of the crew.
Watch the footage above. More over at The New York Post:
Terrifying moment gang raids jewelry store for $1.7M in one minute https://t.co/k4qnTW5LBE pic.twitter.com/PBblTjLgom
— New York Post (@nypost) March 13, 2026
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