Young masked suspects rammed a vehicle through the front of an California jewelry store in broad daylight and stole a million dollars worth of merchandise.
Anaheim police say the smash-and-grab unfolded Friday around 2:30 p.m. at Classic Jewelers, when officers were dispatched to reports of a commercial burglary already in progress.
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators shows a dark-colored Nissan Rogue lining up directly in front of the store’s glass entrance before suddenly accelerating and ramming through the doorway, shattering glass and collapsing the frame.
After the impact, several suspects dressed in dark clothing and masks poured inside the store and began tearing through jewelry cases, grabbing merchandise and dumping items into containers.
Video from inside the store shows one suspect positioned near the entrance, appearing to monitor the doorway while others focused on the display cases.
Anaheim police said employees told officers that the suspects deliberately used the vehicle as a battering ram to gain entry and steal jewelry.
During the burglary, investigators say the suspects also took a firearm from behind the counter that belonged to the business.
One man inside the store can be seen standing motionless near the entrance, holding a cellphone as the suspects rushed past him, seemingly shocked by the violence and speed of the attack.
Store owner Ramzy Tabello later described the incident as “the scariest thing of my life,” recalling the chaos as suspects stormed the business.
According to Tabello, more suspects were involved than what appears on the initial video.
“Eight to ten guys run in with masks, trash cans, and crowbars, hammers, and smash every showcase,” Tabello told FOX 11.
“My gun was on the table, they grabbed my gun and at that point I thought I was going to get shot.”
After grabbing trays of jewelry, the suspects ran back through the destroyed entrance and fled the scene.
Investigators said the Nissan Rogue used to smash into the store was left behind and was later confirmed to be stolen.
Police believe the group escaped in two Dodge Charger sedans, which were quickly spotted by officers in the surrounding area.
An Anaheim police officer soon saw one of the suspected getaway vehicles near East Street and the 91 Freeway and followed.
Authorities said no traffic stop or active pursuit had been initiated when the vehicle became involved in a multi-car crash near Orangethorpe Avenue.
All four occupants inside that vehicle fled on foot after the collision but were later rounded up and taken into custody, police said.
Roughly five minutes later, a second suspected getaway car was located by an Anaheim Police Department air unit near Harbor and Brea boulevards in Fullerton.
That vehicle was also involved in a multi-vehicle collision, this time at the intersection of Euclid Street and Malvern Avenue, according to police.
Officials stressed that neither Anaheim nor Fullerton officers were actively pursuing the vehicle when the crash occurred, adding that officers arrived as the collision unfolded.
Right after the second crash, two men believed to be connected to the jewelry store burglary were arrested at the scene.
Police said a handgun was recovered in the area of the crash.
Additional arrests followed hours later when two more suspects were found hiding in the back yards of different residences, authorities confirmed.
Detectives recovered trays of stolen jewelry from inside the crashed vehicles as the investigation continued.
In total, eight suspects were taken into custody in connection with the burglary, including one juvenile.
Police said every suspect involved in the crime was under the age of 24.
Seven adult suspects were booked into jail on suspicion of multiple felony charges pending review by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
The juvenile suspect was released to a guardian pending further proceedings.
Detectives said they are still working to confirm whether the firearm and jewelry recovered are the same items taken from the store during the burglary.
The Anaheim incident unfolded as authorities across the country responded to another vehicle-related security breaches the same weekend.
In Michigan, a driver was taken into custody after crashing a vehicle into a terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport late Friday night.
The Wayne County Airport Authority said the crash occurred around 7:30 p.m. at the McNamara Terminal near Delta Air Lines check-in counters.
Officials said the vehicle drove through an entrance and struck a ticket counter inside the terminal.
Firefighters treated six people at the scene, according to airport officials.
The driver was taken into custody, though authorities did not immediately release the individual’s name.
Videos circulating online showed a Mercedes inside the terminal and a man wearing a Detroit Lions jersey being detained by officers.
A Detroit Metro Airport official said the driver was petitioned for a medical evaluation.
It has not been disclosed whether anyone else was inside the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Delta Air Lines said in a statement that there was no operational impact to flights and no reported injuries among passengers.
The airline added that three employees were evaluated by emergency personnel after encountering debris.
Wayne County officials said the investigation remains ongoing and that charges had not yet been determined as of Saturday morning.
