Masked group robs Bay Area jewelry store in take-over style heist, about $1 million seized

About 20 thieves dressed in dark clothing entered Heller Jewelers in San Ramon, California, at 1:50 p.m. Monday in a take-over style armed robbery and smashed display cases to seize roughly $1 million in jewelry. Surveillance footage and police statements describe a coordinated rush as the group moved through the store, drawing handguns while others used hammers, pickaxes and crowbars to shatter display cases and grab merchandise. The attackers were seen carrying bags to stash their loot before fleeing in getaway cars parked in a nearby valet area.

Police pursued the fleeing vehicles but stopped the chase, citing the inherent danger to the public and because air support was available to continue tracking the suspect vehicle. Air units tracked the group into Alameda County, where suspects were detained in Oakland and Dublin as the investigation continued.

Seven suspects captured by authorities ranged in age from 17 to 31, and investigators believe they are connected to similar crimes across the Bay Area, according to ABC News 7. Lt. Mike Pistello of the San Ramon Police Department said the group entered the store and effectively took over the premises, adding that the door locked behind them as the robbery unfolded. He noted that one suspect fired rounds through the front entrance while staff were confronted and the merchandise was looted.

"What ended up happening was, once the suspects went in, the door locked behind them," Pistello said to ABC News 7. "This is not their first time doing something like this." He emphasized that San Ramon investigators would pursue every lead possible as they work to identify all participants and determine if these individuals were involved in similar incidents elsewhere in the region.

The incident sits amid a recent pattern of high-profile jewelry-store robberies in the area. On July 21, 2023, the same Heller Jewelers storefront was robbed in a separate incident by at least 11 individuals, with authorities reporting a roughly similar haul of about $1.1 million in merchandise. In that case, four getaway cars were used, and five members of the group were later charged by the United States Attorney’s Office in connection with the robbery that occurred on Aug. 2, 2023. Police and prosecutors described the two events as part of a broader trend of organized smash-and-grab robberies targeting luxury retailers in the region.

In a statement released after the latest robbery, Heller Jewelers thanked the community for its support and noted that nobody was harmed. "We are deeply grateful that nobody was harmed. That is what matters most," the store said, adding that Heller Jewelers has been part of the community for nearly thirty years and has always valued the relationships it has built with customers. The firm said it would reopen on September 27 and pledged to continue serving customers with the same care, trust, and dedication that have guided the Heller family and its team for generations.