SAN JOSE, Calif. — An 88-year-old jewelry store owner was assaulted in a brazen smash-and-grab heist in San Jose, California, police said.
It happened on Friday at Kim Hung Jewelry.
A warning, some viewers might find the surveillance video disturbing
VIDEO: Brazen smash-and-grab robbery at San Jose jewelry store
The 88-year-old store owner suffered a stroke and was also cut by broken glass after the assault, according to sources. No arrests have been made.
Video showed a car crashing through the front of the jewelry store. Moments later, more than a dozen robbers broke display cases and snatched jewelry.
One of robbers shoved the elderly store owner to the ground. He suffered a stroke and was also cut by broken glass, according to sources who know the owner.
A close family friend of the jewelry owner says she arrived shortly after the brazen smash and grab.
“He is OK; business is not OK. Everyone knows that situation right now. Every business is in danger,” the family friend said.
Local leaders say $50,000 to $100,000 in damage was done to the jewelry business, and the owner also now has to deal with medical bills.
The suspects fled the scene in multiple vehicles, police said. No arrests have been made.
On Sunday, there was a call for action from regional leaders to stop violent crime directed at small businesses.
“In Milpitas, we also have those rams, where people just go and ram the ATMs,” Milpitas, California Mayor Carmen Montano said.
“We need more support in public safety, in police officers. We need more DAs to prosecute this type of crime, bring more cameras,” San Jose Councilman Bien Doan said.
SEE ALSO: 7 California men charged in largest jewelry heist in U.S. history after $100M theft
The family friend and local leaders are pleading with the governor to do more to prosecute criminals and help make things safer for small businesses.
“It’s not my business, but I’m very scared. I’m very angry,” the store owner’s friend said. “It’s what happened to the people in California, in San Jose, everywhere in the United States. It’s not good. It’s not safe.”
MORE: 3 smash-and-grab robberies in Oakland in 48 hours; 1 business owner held at gunpoint
While some statistics indicate crime is dropping in many cities, Edward Escobar, founder of Cities Unite, says there may be another factor.
“What we are experiencing also is the lack of reporting of crime by business owners, especially small business owners. Why? Because their business insurance may be canceled,” he said.
Local leaders say the owner has closed the business he has run for nearly 40 years, and there’s no telling if or when he’ll reopen.
“This happened in broad daylight, one o’clock on a Friday. This could happen to any business that could open for a day of business,” Cupertino, California Mayor Liang Chao said.
“Hear our voice. We need assistance; we need help now,” Escobar said.
Anyone with any information about this incident is urged to contact the SJPD Robbery Unit at SJPDRobbery@sanjoseca.gov.
Copyright © 2025 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.