Beleaguered Northern California jewellery retailer turns to safety devices to assist snag robbers

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

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

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

Before the suspects may exit, nonetheless, the store’s safety measures activated and the shop’s door closed, momentarily trapping the mob.

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

Cellphone footage shows at the very least one suspect opening hearth on the safety door. The suspects finally broke via 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 “due to the inherent danger to the public.”

Police helicopters and drones, nonetheless, continued monitoring a automotive that went via Contra Costa County and into Alameda County.

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

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

The retailer has been closed since Monday and plans to reopen Saturday, in accordance with a Facebook post.

“Heller Jewelers has been a part of the community for nearly 30 years, and we’ve always believed in the strength of the relationship we’ve built with you,” the shop famous in a message. “Your support in the days since means more to us than we can express.”

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 tracking device was among the many loot.

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