A brazen robbery crew in Northern California turned a luxury jewelry shop in Fremont into a smash-and-grab scene, making off with an estimated $1.7 million in merchandise in just over a minute.
Newly released surveillance video from the U.S. Department of Justice reveals the speed and coordination of the heist, which took place June 18, 2025, at Kumar Jewelers in Fremont. Authorities described the crime as a “mob-style takeover.” The footage shows several vehicles pulling up outside the store before nearly two dozen masked suspects in dark hoodies rush toward the entrance in a tightly organized group.
Wielding picks and hammers and carrying backpacks, the suspects moved quickly once inside. They smashed display cases and stuffed gold and diamond jewelry into their bags, stripping an estimated 75% to 80% of the store’s inventory in a matter of moments.
Authorities say the entire raid lasted about 70 seconds before the group sped off in waiting vehicles with nearly $2 million in jewelry. The surveillance footage was first obtained by the East Bay Times.
The masked suspects quickly piled into several stolen getaway cars and scattered in different directions. Because the vehicles had been reported stolen, automated license plate readers were unable to help investigators identify those involved in the heist.
Police attempted to chase one of the vehicles — a black Acura — but the pursuit quickly turned dangerous.
“Forced to decide which car to pursue, officers continued after (a) Black Acura, which led them on a pursuit through several residential areas in Fremont,” federal prosecutors wrote in court filings. “During the pursuit, the Black Acura passed other vehicles on the wrong side of the road, ran stop signs at multiple intersections, and reached speeds of approximately 80 miles per hour while veering across lanes.”
Authorities later arrested four suspects allegedly connected to the robbery: Afatupetaiki Faasisila, Jose Herrada-Aragon, Andres Palestino and Tom Parker Donegan, who were all about 19 or 20 years old at the time.
Faasisila and Palestino were later released while the case remains pending, according to court records.
Investigators say most of the suspects involved in the smash-and-grab remain at large.
