70 SECOND MOB HEIST YIELDED ALMOST $2 MILLION WORTH OF JEWELRY

Moment huge masked mob steals almost $2 million of jewellery in just 70 seconds in armed raid

 

By Joe Rossiter 

 

Daily Mail

Mar 15, 2025

 

 

Almost two dozen men broke into Kumar Jewelers in Fremont, California in June 2025

 

Thieves stole almost $2 million worth of jewellery in just 70 seconds at a Californian shop.

Nearly two dozen masked and hooded thugs flooded Kumar Jewelers in Fremont, in a 'mob-style takeover'.

They arrived in a fleet of cars which screeched into the jeweller's car park before the thieves used pickaxes and hammers to break through glass display cases and stuffed loot into rucksacks.

A stolen Honda smashed down the store's door to begin the raid.

More than three-quarters of the jeweller's products - including gold and diamonds - were stolen, valued at around $1.7 million.

Two gunmen held a security guard hostage until the last thief left, after which the getaway cars sped off in different directions.

That meant police could only follow one of the cars and the rest were able to escape.

Though the raid happened in June 2025, the US Department of Justice has only now made the footage public.

 

The thieves stole around three quarters of the jeweller's stock, including gold and diamonds

 

In court filings reported by the East Bay Times, federal prosecutors wrote: '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.

'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.'

After the car crashed men got out and were chased by officers on foot - four men aged 19 and 20 were then arrested.

Afatupetaiki Faasisila, 20, of San Bruno, Jose Herrada-Aragon, 20, of Concord, Andres Palestino, 19, of Concord, and Tom Parker Donegan, 19, of Fairfield, now face a federal indictment, according to the East Bay Times.

Faasisila and Palestino have been released by a judge while the case is pending, records show.

Police have not yet arrested anyone else suspected of taking part in the raid.

Prosecutors believe there is a link between the Fremont robbery and another raid three months later in San Ramon, California, where another $1.7 million of jewellery was stolen.

After a car crash and a short pursuit on foot, four men aged between 19 and 20 were arrested. Police have not detained anyone else suspected of being involved in the raid.

Some 19 people have been either charged or convicted for the San Ramon robbery, which targeted Heller Jewelers, and last month two men were convicted at trial of conspiracy and robbery for their involvement.