San Ramon community leaders call for action after brazen $1 million jewelry store heist
SAN RAMON, Calif. (KGO) -- Community leaders gathered outside City Center Bishop Ranch in San Ramon on Thursday to address the recent brazen jewelry heist from Monday afternoon.
Heller Jewelers was targeted by nearly 25 masked suspects just before 2 p.m. on Monday.
"We're seeing the same MO," said Edward Escobar, founder of Citizens Unite and lead organizer of the Coalition for Community Engagement. "Crime gangs being orchestrated, criminal rings hiring very young, influential and impressionable young people."
WATCH: Dramatic video shows nearly 25 suspects ransacking San Ramon jewelry store in $1 million heist
The first seven suspects arrested are all from Oakland, ranging in age from 17 to 31. San Ramon Police credited their neighbor at Dublin police for putting out the initial 'Be On the Look-Out' alert of a robbery crew win the area.
"We were very proud we were able to assist in the effort," said Dublin's Mayor Sherry Hu. "These crimes are alarming not just for what's taken, the attempt to steal from our community, but also our sense of safety and trust."
"This is why we must focus on prevention," added Mayor Hu.
That tip to Dublin police led to San Ramon police dispatching its Drone first responder (DFR), which got to the scene before any patrol officers arrived. The DFR captured the entire robbery as it happened. On Tuesday, police released the drone footage to ABC7 News. It showed the suspects running to their getaway cars before driving off.
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Air support from Alameda County Sheriff's eventually took over to keep track of the suspects, even when law enforcement ended the police pursuit citing a danger to public safety. Three of the seven arrested suspects only got as far as the Dublin BART station before being taken into custody.
"I want to commend San Ramon police for having done an excellent job with their law enforcement in using this modern day technology, drone technology," said Escobar.
The DFR program is part of a grant San Ramon police received in 2023 to assist with organized retail theft. Police leaders said it's made all the difference, while community leaders hope it can help with getting ahead of crime.
"Technology can be our friend. We need to control the rollout, shape the future of fighting crime," said Escobar.
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