iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
A month after one of the oldest Indian American-run jewelry stores in Sunnyvale, California, was robbed, a group of 20 suspects ransacked another jewelry store Wednesday afternoon, June 12. The suspects used hammers to smash the display cases and flee with an unknown amount of jewelry, authorities said. The incident took place around 1:27 pm at PNG Jewelers, located at 791 East El Camino Real, Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety said.
According to the DPS, at least five of the suspects were nabbed following police pursuits that crossed into the Peninsula.
As per reports, the suspects fled in multiple vehicles before law enforcement officials arrived. However, responding officers spotted two of the vehicles and chased them.
When the vehicles refused to pull over, pursuits ensued, DPS said. Following a lengthy search, four people were arrested near Industrial Road and Britan Avenue in San Carlos. The fifth suspect was found nearby and nabbed.
The suspects have been identified as Tonga Latu, Tavake Esafe, Ofa Ahomana, Kilifi Leaaetoa and Afuhia Lavakeiaho. They have been locked in the Santa Clara County Jail and face various charges, including armed robbery, resisting arrest, vandalism, felony vehicle evasion, and burglary, DPS said.
Officials said some of the robbed jewelry was recovered, DPS said. However, the total value of the stolen jewelry is yet to be disclosed.
Fortunately, none of the robbery victims were injured. Police have started an investigation. Detective Thomas McKenzie has urged the public to call at 408-730-7110 and share information if they happen to have any pertaining to the case.
Meanwhile, this is the third such jewelry heist in a space of a month. Nitin Jewelers, one of the oldest Indian American-run jewelry stores located at El Camino Real in the city of Sunnyvale, California, was robbed by masked men May 4. This was followed by another heist on May 29.
Over a dozen people robbed Bhindi Jewelers in Newark, California, on the aforementioned date. Perpetrators of the Bhindi Jewelers robbery walked into the outlet at 1 pm according to Newark police spokesperson Captain Jolie Macias. She told Indica over the phone that no firearms were involved. There were at least a dozen people involved, and they came in multiple vehicles.
Meanwhile, the owners are now demanding an FBI probe following the repetition and frequency of these occurrences. Nitin Soni, the owner of the Nitin Jewelers, told Indica: “Nobody fears the police, we demand an FBI investigation into the case. They failed to protect us.”
