SAN RAMON — Police have recognized six males and a juvenile arrested after allegedly becoming a member of a big group that stormed right into a San Ramon jewellery retailer, some carrying weapons, and smashed circumstances, grabbed merchandise and fled in a number of stolen getaway automobiles, authorities stated.
Arrested in relation to the Monday theft of Heller Jewelers had been Michael Ray, 31; Jimmy Ray, 27; Ira Austin, 19; Jahkeal McGolthin, 18; Jacques Samuel, 18; DeAndre Demisse, 19, and a 17-year-old boy.
On Thursday, the Contra Costa District Legal professional’s Workplace introduced expenses towards three of them: Michael Ray of San Francisco, Jimmy Ray of Vallejo and Austin, who lives in San Francisco. They every had been charged with 13 counts of second-degree theft and one rely of conspiracy to commit against the law, with particular enhancements as a result of worth of the stolen property.
Police are nonetheless on the lookout for extra suspects. No less than 20 masked robbers took half within the smash-and-grab theft at about 1:50 p.m. Monday on the retailer positioned within the Metropolis Heart Bishop Ranch purchasing heart.
“Our communities deserve safety from conduct like the audacious daylight robbery in San Ramon,” stated Contra Costa District Legal professional Diana Becton stated in a press release. “Thanks to the excellent investigative work by the San Ramon Police Department, these defendants will face significant punishment for the offenses they committed.”
Added Becton, “my office will continue to work with San Ramon PD and other law enforcement partners to identify other perpetrators who participated in this brazen robbery and charge them accordingly.”
Video of the theft circulating on-line exhibits the masked individuals carrying what seems to be choose axes, crow bars and tire irons. At one level, video seems to indicate the store’s entrance doorways lock the robbers inside, earlier than one in all them fires off a number of pictures via the glass, permitting the group to flee to getaway automobiles parked within the lot’s valet space.
“We’re not sharing details about the store’s security to avoid compromising employee safety or revealing their security measures,” police spokesperson Lt. Leysy Pelayo stated in a press release Thursday. “Based on video footage released, it appeared the suspects were unable to open the doors as they may have been locked just before one of the individuals shot through the glass door.”
Pelayo didn’t say whether or not the suspects had been in possession of any stolen property after they had been arrested. Police reportedly apprehended McGlothin, Samuel and Demisse on the Dublin BART station. Michael Ray, Jimmy Ray, Austin and the 17-year-old juvenile had been arrested in East Oakland, Pelayo stated.
Police reportedly used drones and a helicopter to trace and observe a number of suspects all through Contra Costa and Alameda counties after suspending a automotive chase out of concern for public security.
Pelayo additionally stated police had been ready for the shop to verify the damages and stock misplaced earlier than reporting how a lot the robbers bought away with. An individual who answered the door on the retailer declined to touch upon Thursday.
This isn’t the primary time masked and armed intruders have robbed Heller Jewelers.
In 2023, federal prosecutors charged 5 individuals who had been allegedly half of a bigger group that robbed the identical retailer in March that 12 months, making away with over 70 items of bijou with an estimated value of $1.1 million, officers stated on the time. The stolen stock included a Rolex watch outfitted with a monitoring system, which police stated helped support of their seize.
Elsewhere within the Bay Space, a gaggle on Sept. 5 violently robbed Kim Hung Jewellery in San Jose’s east aspect, when greater than a dozen masked assailants entered the shop and shoved the aged proprietor of the shop to the bottom.
Additionally, a Milpitas jewellery retailer proprietor on Sept. 10 reportedly fired a gun at a gaggle of suspects throughout an tried smash-and-grab theft, inflicting the would-be robbers to flee earlier than taking any merchandise, in response to police.
Hu stated in an interview that some of these organized crimes are “not an easy thing to prevent,” although she urged state and county legislators to strengthen legal guidelines and stiffen penalties to fight smash-and-grab robberies.
“We feel in Dublin we are doing a great job…(but) it’s hard for Dublin to act on our own,” Hu stated.
Initially Revealed: September 25, 2025 at 5:46 PM PDT
