Nearly twenty people robbed a jewelry store in less than two and a half minutes on Wednesday, June 12
Sunnyvale DPS
Afuhia Lavakeiaho, Ofa Ahomana
A group of nearly two dozen people broke into a jewelry store in Sunnyvale, California, on Wednesday, June 12, and stole armfuls of jewelry in less than three minutes, the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety said in a news release.
The thieves broke into PNG Jewelers, located at 791 E. El Camino Real, and destroyed nearly every display case. After a two-minute, 15-second attack, they made off with a lot of jewelry, according to the release. No one was injured during the robbery.
On Friday, June 14, the store’s surveillance video was released. The footage shows two employees at the front of the store when they hear a noise at the front door and then move behind several interior doors.
Related: Woman wanted in six jewelry store robberies in the Southeast
Then, one by one, nearly two dozen people enter and brandish hammers and tools to smash the display cases full of jewelry before putting the pieces in their bags, police said. They quickly leave the store and after everyone else, one more person remains behind to break the last display case.
One employee then emerged from her hiding place and investigated the room. Police responded to the scene around 1:30 PM local time and have not yet estimated the amount of damage or goods taken. In addition, some of the stolen jewelry has been recovered.
Before authorities arrived, the suspects fled the store in multiple vehicles. However, officers encountered two suspicious vehicles as they attempted to flee the area. The “officers attempted a vehicle stop, but both vehicles evaded, leading to a pursuit,” the news release said. The officers then followed the vehicles to Highway 101.
Sunnyvale DPS
Tavake Esafe
Related: $1 million worth of jewelry stolen after robbers cut a ‘gaping’ hole in the wall of the adjacent store
But when they lost sight of the first vehicle, officers ended the pursuit. Meanwhile, while pursuing the second vehicle, the suspects threw the stolen jewelry from the moving vehicle, and when authorities lost sight of the second vehicle, the chase ended.
Shortly afterwards, the vehicle was found on Highway 101 near Whipple Ave with five suspects – Tonga Latu, Tavake Esafe, Ofa Ahomana, Kilifi Leaaetoa and Afuhia Lavakeiaho – who then fled the scene on foot, the press release said. Four of the suspects were taken into custody, while the fifth was found by the police service dog.
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