An elderly jewelry store owner in San Jose, California, was taken to hospital after his shop was destroyed during a brutal smash-and-grab raid.
The brazen heist took place just after 2 p.m. Friday as Kim Hung Jewelry was closing.
Surveillance video from the scene showed at least a dozen black-clad suspects ramming an SUV into the store’s front windows before the assailants rushed in to help themselves to whatever they could grab in the coordinated assault.
The 88-year-old owner was violently pushed to the ground in the process and later taken to hospital after suffering a stroke in the melee.
As some of the group left the trashed premises one could be seen pointing a gun at another employee who was standing near a wall. Another suspect then appeared to rifle through the employee’s pockets.
The entire group quickly fled once a car horn blared outside.
“If this was your family member, if this was your business that you spent your whole lifetime to build up, and then within one hour you’re out of business,” San Jose City Councilmember Bien Doan said during a Coalition for Community Engagement news conference, KTVU reported.
The octogenarian victim’s family was also at the news briefing and confirmed the shop owner suffered a stroke, as well as injuries from broken glass.
He spent the night in hospital care but reportedly was later determined to be in stable condition and released.
“The suspects fled the scene in multiple vehicles prior to police arrival,” the police said.
“The suspects are unidentified and remain at large.”
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan called the robbery “appalling.”
“Watching this senior get assaulted made my blood boil,” Mahan wrote Saturday on X. “These people need to face the harshest possible consequences for their actions. I’ve been in touch with our police chief … and will be following the investigation closely.”
WATCH:
Share your thoughts by scrolling down to leave a comment.
