Jewelry store robbed of $1.7M by gang in one-minute raid

A ruthless gang in Northern California swiftly raided a high-end jewelry store in Fremont, making off with an astonishing $1.7 million worth of merchandise in just over a minute.

Recently released surveillance footage from the U.S. Department of Justice reveals the orchestrated heist that took place on June 18, 2025, at Kumar Jewelers in Fremont. Described as a "mob-style takeover" by authorities, the video captures a group of nearly two dozen masked suspects in dark hoodies arriving in a fleet of vehicles that screeched to a stop in front of the store.

Armed with picks and hammers, the thieves carried out the chaos inside the store with remarkable precision, quickly smashing glass cases and filling their backpacks with gold and diamonds. They managed to clear out an estimated 75-80% of the store's inventory.

The raid lasted approximately 70 seconds before the group fled in stolen vehicles, taking almost $2 million worth of jewels with them. The East Bay Times first obtained the video.

The masked perpetrators swiftly escaped in multiple stolen getaway cars that dispersed in different directions. As the vehicles were stolen, automated license plate readers were ineffective in aiding investigators to identify the suspects.

Following the heist, federal prosecutors stated, "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." The pursuit involved dangerous driving maneuvers, including passing vehicles on the wrong side of the road, running stop signs, and reaching speeds of around 80 miles per hour while weaving across lanes.

Authorities subsequently apprehended four suspects allegedly connected to the crime: Afatupetaiki Faasisila, Jose Herrada-Aragon, Andres Palestino, and Tom Parker Donegan, all aged around 19 or 20 at the time.

According to records reviewed by the East Bay Times, Faasisila and Palestino were released as the case remains pending.

The majority of the perpetrators involved in the robbery are still evading capture.