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Sunnyvale authorities meet Indian-American jewelry store owners after robberies rock community
In the past few months, numerous robberies have specifically targeted Indian stores in the US.
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Indian-American business owners along with the law enforcement team. / Courtesy Photo
A string of recent armed robberies targeting Indian jewelry businesses from Newark to Sunnyvale led to the loss of millions of dollars in assets and widespread panic among business owners and the local community. In response, Sunnyvale authorities including Mayor Larry Klein, Vice Mayor Murali Srinivasan, Chief of Police Phan Ngo, Interim City Manager Tim Kirby, and the AIA leadership team held a meeting to discuss growing concerns within the Indian-American business community.
Indian-American entrepreneur Ajay Bhutoria, who was also present, said: "I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Mayor Larry Klein, Vice Mayor Murali Srinivasan, Chief of Police Phan Ngo, Interim City Manager Tim Kirby, and Connie V for their prompt response and unwavering support during this crisis. Their collaboration and dedication have been instrumental in addressing the community's concerns and ensuring swift action.”
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This meeting comes days after more than 20 suspects broke into Indian-owned PNG Jewelers on June.12. / This meeting comes days after more than 20 suspects broke into Indian-owned PNG Jewelers on June.12 on El Camino Real in California. 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.
The police managed to apprehend five suspects involved in the PNG theft case. 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.
After the meeting, Bhutoria extended his thanks to the Sunnyvale Police Department for working with regional authorities and promptly making the arrests.
“Our businesses now feel a sense of relief knowing that effective measures are being taken to protect them,” Bhutoria added. “This situation has shown the strength and resilience of our community, and the importance of strong leadership in times of crisis.”
Before the PNG robbery incident, a gang of thieves broke into Bhindi Jewelers located in Newark on May.29. A similar heist took place on May.4 in the neighboring town of Sunnyvale, California. During this incident, at least 10 masked individuals stormed into a store and began smashing display cases.
Indian-American women have been targets of chain snatching for at least the past five years. These incidents, often occurring in parks and suburban streets, typically in broad daylight, involve a suspect approaching the victim from behind and forcibly removing the gold chain she is wearing. Indian women are targeted because the gold they wear is of higher purity, typically 18 to 22 karats, compared to the US norm of 14 karats.
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Several Indian jewelry story owners participated in the meeting. / Courtesy Photo
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