A smash-and-grab robbery carried out by a large masked crew left a high-end jewellery store in Northern California stripped of most of its merchandise, with thieves escaping with nearly $1.7 million worth of gold and diamonds in just over a minute.The dramatic heist, which took place on June 18, 2025, at Kumar Jewelers in Fremont, was captured on surveillance footage later released by the US Department of Justice.

Mob-style raid unfolds in seconds

The video shows several vehicles screeching to a halt outside the storefront before nearly two dozen masked suspects dressed in dark hoodies rushed inside. Carrying picks, hammers and backpacks, the group moved swiftly through the showroom.Within moments, glass display cases were smashed and jewelry was scooped into bags. Investigators estimate that the robbers cleared out about 75–80% of the store’s inventory during the rapid raid.Employees inside the store ran to the back for safety as the suspects worked with what authorities described as “surgical precision.”

Loot worth nearly $2 million

According to investigators, the entire operation lasted roughly 70 seconds. By the time the suspects fled, they had taken close to USD 1.7 million worth of merchandise.The crew quickly exited the store and dispersed in several waiting vehicles, many of which were later determined to have been stolen.

High-speed police chase

Police responding to the incident had to choose which getaway car to pursue. Officers ultimately followed a black Acura, which led them on a high-speed chase through residential neighborhoods in Fremont.Federal prosecutors said the driver sped through intersections, ran stop signs and reached speeds of about 80 miles per hour while weaving across lanes and overtaking vehicles on the wrong side of the road.

Four suspects arrested

Authorities later arrested four suspects believed to be connected to the robbery: Afatupetaiki Faasisila, Jose Herrada-Aragon, Andres Palestino and Tom Parker Donegan. All were about 19 or 20 years old at the time of the incident.Investigators say the use of stolen vehicles complicated efforts to identify the suspects initially, as automated license plate readers could not link the getaway cars to those involved in the heist.