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Indian jewelry store broken into in California’s Sunnyvale
The total value of the stolen items is currently unknown, but five suspects are currently in custody.
Suspects are identified as Afuhia Lavakeiaho, Ofa Ahomana, Tavake Esafe, Kilifi Leaaetoa, Tonga Latu. / Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety
In a shocking incident, more than 20 suspects broke into Indian-owned PNG Jewelers on June.12 on El Camino Real in California, the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (DPS) said in a press release.
Officers from the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety were dispatched to the store in response while the robbery was still in progress. The suspects involved used hammers and tools to break the jewelry display cases.
— Sunnyvale DPS (@SunnyvaleDPS) June 13, 2024
Multiple suspects fled the store in several vehicles before officers arrived. But the police located two of the suspect vehicles as they attempted to leave the area. Although officers tried to stop the vehicles, both evaded, resulting in pursuits. During the chase of the second vehicle, the suspects discarded stolen jewelry from the moving vehicle.
Five suspects from the vehicle attempted to escape on foot by running across the freeway and into the nearby industrial area. Four suspects were apprehended near Industrial Rd. and Britan Ave. in San Carlos, while the last suspect was located nearby and caught by a DPS Police Service Dog after an attempted escape. Some of the stolen jewelry has been recovered, but the total value of the stolen items is currently unknown.
The individuals were identified as Tonga Latu, Tavake Esafe, Ofa Ahomana, Kilifi Leaaetoa, and Afuhia Lavakeiaho. All of them were booked into the Santa Clara County jail and they face various charges including armed robbery, felony vehicle evasion, resisting arrest, burglary, conspiracy to commit a crime, vandalism, possession of burglary tools, and outstanding warrants.
This incident is currently under investigation. Investigators are working to establish whether it is connected to a previous robbery at a jewelry store in Sunnyvale that took place in May, which also involved multiple suspects.
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