A group of masked robbers carried out a quick robbery at Kumar Jewellers in Fremont, California. They stole jewellery worth about Rs 15.7 crore (USD 1.7 million) in a little over one minute. The store was owned by an Indian-American family and the robbery happened on June 18 last year.
US DoJ Releases Video
The US Department of Justice has released surveillance footage, which shows how the incident unfolded. In the video, robbers, armed with pick hammers and carrying backpacks, are seen entering the store. The thieves smash the glass cases with lightning speed and steal gold and diamonds. The robbers are seen grabbing the jewellery quickly and stuffing it in their bags. They flee from the scene using stolen cars in different directions, making it difficult for authorities to catch them.
The robbers were able to steal about 75% of the store's merchandise. According to New York Post report, the authorities found it difficult to investigate the case as the cars were stolen and their number plates also didn't help them to link the suspect involved in crime. “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,” federal prosecutors stated in court filings.
The Department of Justice has released footage of thugs stealing $1.7 million of jewelry in about one minute in Fremont, California.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 13, 2026
The incident happened on June 18, 2025, at Kumar Jewelers.
The thugs were able to steal about 75% of the store's merchandise.
According to… pic.twitter.com/tTkcLek0w5
"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 veering across lanes," court flings added.
Four Arrested
However, authorities later arrested four suspects, identified as Afatupetaiki Faasisila, Jose Herrada-Aragon, Andres Palestino, and Tom Parker Donegan. While they were arrested on the same day, many robbers could not be tracked.
Netizens React To Video
The video has gone viral on social media and triggered a chain of reactions. A user wrote, “75% of the merchandise gone in one minute… unbelievable. This is exactly why stores need top-tier security systems." Another user commented, “They took it to the cleaners in 1 minute.” “Straight from gta,” added one user.