A ruthless “robbery crew” in Northern California turned a high-end Fremont jewelry store into a smash-and-grab wasteland, escaping with a staggering $1.7 million in merchandise in just over a minute.
Shocking surveillance footage released recently by the U.S. Department of Justice shows the precision of the heist, which occurred on June 18, 2025 at Kumar Jewelers in Fremont. Described by authorities as a “mob-style takeover,” the video shows a fleet of vehicles screeching to a halt in front of the storefront, and a crew of nearly two dozen masked suspects in dark hoodies swarming in like a tactical unit.
Armed with picks, hammers and carrying backpacks, the chaos that ensued inside was carried out with surgical precision. The professional thieves smashed glass cases with terrifying speed and shoved gold and diamonds inside their bags — clearing out an estimated 75-80% of the store’s goods.
Authorities say the raid lasted roughly 70 seconds before the group fled in waiting vehicles with almost $2 million worth of jewels. The video was initially obtained by the East Bay Times.
The masked crew bolted and jumped into multiple stolen getaway cars that peeled off in different directions. Since the vehicles were stolen, automated license plate readers failed to help investigators tie suspects to the heist.
“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 linked to the crime: Afatupetaiki Faasisila, Jose Herrada-Aragon, Andres Palestino and Tom Parker Donegan, all around 19 or 20 years old at the time.
Faasisila and Palestino were released as the case is pending, according to records reviewed by the East Bay Times.
Most of the bandits remain at large.
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