Dramatic California Jewellery Heist Captured on Video as Thieves Use SUV as Battering Ram
In a brazen daylight robbery that has shocked the community, thieves used a stolen SUV as a battering ram to smash their way into a jewellery store in California, making off with approximately $1 million in gold and jewels before their dramatic getaway ended in multiple car crashes.
The Coordinated Smash-and-Grab Attack
The incident unfolded on January 23 around 2:30pm at Classic Jewelers in Anaheim, when a group of eight suspects, all reportedly under 25 years old, used a Nissan Rogue to break through the front entrance of the establishment. According to the Anaheim Police Department, officers responded to a commercial burglary call to find the storefront completely compromised.
Store owner Ramcy Tabelo described the terrifying scene to local media: 'Eight to ten guys run in with masks, trash cans, and crowbars, hammers, and smash every showcase.' The coordinated attack saw the thieves clear out the entire store within approximately sixty seconds, demonstrating a chilling efficiency.
In a particularly alarming moment during the raid, the thieves also seized Tabelo's personal firearm from a table. 'My gun was on the table, they grabbed my gun, and at that point I thought I was going to get shot,' the shaken owner recounted to reporters.
Chaotic Getaway and Multiple Arrests
After completing their lightning-fast robbery, the suspects fled the scene in two separate Dodge Chargers, abandoning the stolen Nissan Rogue at the jewellery store. The getaway quickly turned chaotic as both vehicles were involved in separate multi-vehicle traffic collisions despite not being actively pursued by police at the time.
Police located one Charger near East Street and the SR-91 Freeway, where it approached Orangethorpe Avenue and crashed. The four occupants attempted to flee on foot but were apprehended by responding officers.
A police helicopter spotted the second Charger when it was involved in another multi-vehicle collision near the intersection of Euclid Street and Malvern Avenue in Fullerton. Officers arrested two suspects immediately at that crash site and subsequently found two others hiding in the backyard of a nearby residence, along with a recovered handgun.
Investigation and Community Response
Authorities have identified seven adult suspects and one juvenile in connection with the heist. The adult suspects, ranging in age from 19 to 24 and hailing from various Los Angeles area communities including Inglewood, Los Angeles, and Compton, have been arrested and booked on suspicion of multiple felony charges pending review by the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Police are working to determine ownership of the recovered firearm while also confirming that several jewellery items were found at both crash sites. Multiple motorists involved in the collisions were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
Store owner Ramcy Tabelo expressed gratitude that no one was seriously hurt during the traumatic incident. 'We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from our community during this difficult time,' he noted. 'By God's grace, no one was hurt. We are rebuilding, staying strong, and are officially back open for business. Thank you for standing with us — it truly means everything.'
The owner added that the business has been touched by the overwhelming amount of prayers, messages, and kindness received following the shocking robbery, which was captured on video and shared widely online.
