A ruthless “robbery crew” in Northern California turned a luxury jewelry store in Fremont into a derelict wasteland and escaped with a whopping $1.7 million worth of merchandise in just over a minute.
Shocking surveillance footage recently released by the U.S. Department of Justice shows the precision of the robbery, which took place on June 18, 2025 at Kumar Jewelers in Fremont. The video, described by authorities as a “mafia-style takeover,” 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 swimming in as 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 display cases with terrifying speed and stuffed gold and diamonds into their bags, clearing an estimated 75-80% of the goods from the store.
Authorities say the raid lasted about 70 seconds before the group fled in waiting vehicles with nearly $2 million in jewelry. The video was initially obtained by the East Bay Times.
The masked crew fled, jumping into several stolen getaway cars that sped off in different directions. Because the vehicles were stolen, automated license plate readers could not help investigators tie suspects to the robbery.
“Forced to decide which car to pursue, officers pursued (a) Black Acura, which led them on a chase through several residential neighborhoods 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 swerving across lanes.”
Authorities later arrested four suspects allegedly linked to the crime: Afatupetaiki Faasisila, Jose Herrada-Aragon, Andres Palestino and Tom Parker Donegan, all about 19 or 20 years old at the time.
Faasisila and Palestino were released while the case was pending, according to records reviewed by the East Bay Times.
Most bandits remain at large.
