Beleaguered Northern California jewelry store turns to security gadgets to help snag robbers

A Northern California jewellery retailer that has been robbed twice since 2023 has turned to modern strategies to cease, deter and finally seize a sequence of armed bandits.

Between 20 and 25 masked suspects stormed into Heller Jewelers in San Ramon on Monday round 1:50 p.m. and started smashing show instances, based on the San Ramon Police Division.

Surveillance footage obtained by ABC Information confirmed suspects utilizing crowbars to interrupt glass and pilfer an estimated $1 million in loot, whereas others entered the shop with handguns.

Earlier than the suspects might exit, nevertheless, the store’s safety measures activated and the shop’s door closed, momentarily trapping the mob.

San Ramon police advised an area information station that the closed door would have required a safety guard to open.

Cellphone footage reveals at the least one suspect opening fireplace on the safety door. The suspects ultimately broke by means of and fled to awaiting autos within the mall’s valet parking part.

San Ramon police initially chased a few of the suspected autos however stopped the pursuit “as a result of inherent hazard to the general public.”

Police helicopters and drones, nevertheless, continued monitoring a automobile that went by means of Contra Costa County and into Alameda County.

Seven unidentified suspects have been arrested in two areas in Oakland and Dublin. They vary in age from 17 to 31, based on San Ramon police, which didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

A retailer supervisor for Heller Jewellery declined to touch upon the heists.

The shop has been closed since Monday and plans to reopen Saturday, based on a Fb submit.

“Heller Jewelers has been part of the neighborhood for almost 30 years, and we’ve at all times believed within the energy of the connection we’ve constructed with you,” the shop famous in a message. “Your help within the days since means extra to us than we will specific.”

Heller was beforehand hit on St. Patrick’s Day in 2023. In that theft, 5 males, together with one with a firearm, burst into the shop and stole greater than $1.1 million in merchandise.

A Rolex watch with a monitoring system was among the many loot.

Detectives discovered and arrested one suspect, which led them to the opposite 4.