In a shocking daytime heist, thieves rammed a stolen Nissan Rogue into the Classic Jewelers store in Anaheim Hills on Friday afternoon, stealing approximately $1 million worth of jewelry. The robbery occurred around 2:30 p.m. at 5753 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road, leaving both the store owner and witnesses rattled.
According to Anaheim police Sgt. Eric Anderson, the suspects quickly abandoned the crashed SUV and fled the scene in two getaway cars, identified as silver and gray Dodge Chargers. Owner Ramzy Tabello described the moment the SUV burst through the store entrance, initially mistaking it for a medical emergency until he realized it was a robbery. “I yelled, I have a gun, get out,” Tabello recounted, noting that the thieves grabbed the weapon from the table. He described the encounter as “the scariest thing in my life,” adding, “They smashed every showcase. They took everything within a matter of a minute.”
After the theft, the police launched an immediate investigation. An officer spotted one of the getaway vehicles on the 91 Freeway and pursued it until it crashed into multiple other cars. The driver attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended, with three passengers also taken into custody following a search.
Meanwhile, a police helicopter located the second getaway vehicle in Fullerton, which also crashed after a brief chase. Officers managed to detain two suspects from this vehicle and recovered a firearm from the scene, although it remains unclear if it was the same gun taken during the robbery. Fortunately, some jewelry was also retrieved from both crash sites.
Ultimately, eight suspects aged between 17 and 24 were apprehended. They hailed from Inglewood, Compton, and Los Angeles. The adults face multiple felony charges, while the minor was released to a guardian as the investigation continues. Notably, while uninvolved motorists suffered minor to moderate injuries in the collisions, no one in the jewelry store was harmed.
This dramatic incident serves as a reminder of the risks posed by organized crime, but it’s heartening to note that law enforcement acted swiftly, leading to the apprehension of all suspects involved and ensuring the safety of the jewelry store’s staff and customers.