NEWARK – Newark police are looking for more than a dozen robbers who looted a luxury jewelry store across from Newpark Mall.
The brazen robbery happened just before 1pm on Wednesday at Bhindi Jewelers at 5944 Newpark Mall Road.
“Unbelievable. I thought, ‘There’s no way this is happening here so close to home in Newark,'” recalls attorney Quynh Chen, who runs a law firm next to the jewelry store. “Shock and the fear of a group of people running in and destroying everything – such a violent incident.”
Newark Police Department Capt. Jolie Macias said there are two locked glass doors in Bhindi where workers have to buzz customers through. She said the robbers used large hand tools to break open those doors. Witnesses said about 12 to 15 men and women wearing masks and gloves rushed in.
“They ran out with arms full of jewelry,” said witness Ken Wright.
Witnesses said people traveling in four separate cars took expensive watches, gold rings and diamond necklaces. They said there was so much stuff that some jewelry fell to the floor as the robbers fled.
“It was a lot. Just on the floor itself,” Chen said.
Captain Macias said the company was still tallying the total loss. On Bhindi’s website, the company showcased high-quality products worth tens of thousands of dollars.
“Even a small piece can amount to thousands of dollars, so I would imagine it’s a very significant dollar amount,” said Captain Macias. “It’s absolutely crazy and frustrating that it happened in the middle of the day, but they’re also going to wait until the shops are open and their suitcases are filled.”
Police said the robbers were gone within three minutes and officers found two vehicles linked to the robbery in neighboring Fremont. Both were reported stolen. Investigators were still looking for additional vehicles used in the crime.
“It was like a McDonald’s drive-thru. They basically got out of the car and got into the car and they were here waiting for them,” Chen said.
“Too many people just try to steal instead of making a living,” Wright said.
The people who worked at Bhindi did not want to talk to the media. According to police, no one was arrested Friday afternoon.
Newark police say that despite this latest incident, robberies are down 10 percent this year compared to the same period last year in their city.
