Gang of robbers raids jewelry store in Sunnyvale; 5 people arrested after police pursuit

A group of about 20 suspects ransacked a jewelry store in Sunnyvale on Wednesday afternoon, smashed display cases with hammers and fled with an unknown amount of jewelry, authorities said.

According to the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (DPS), five of the suspects were later arrested following a police chase that extended to the peninsula.

The robbery occurred around 1:27 p.m. at PNG Jewelers, 791 East El Camino Real, DPS said.

The suspects fled in several vehicles before police arrived, but officers responding to police managed to spot two of the vehicles as they fled, according to DPS.

Officers attempted to stop both vehicles, but the drivers refused to stop, sparking a pursuit, according to DPS. Officers pursued the vehicles through Sunnyvale and eventually onto Highway 101 toward Peninsula.

Officers called off the pursuit of one of the vehicles after losing sight of it. While pursuing the second vehicle, officers saw the suspects throwing stolen jewelry from the moving car, according to DPS.

Officers had to abandon their pursuit of the second vehicle after losing sight of it, but other police officers eventually found the vehicle abandoned on Highway 101 near Whipple Avenue in Redwood City, DPS said.

The five suspects in the vehicle ran across the highway and into a nearby industrial area, according to DPS. Four of them were arrested near Industrial Road and Britan Avenue in San Carlos. The fifth suspect was found nearby and also arrested.

The suspects, identified as Tonga Latu, Tavake Esafe, Ofa Ahomana, Kilifi Leaaetoa and Afuhia Lavakeiaho, were booked into the Santa Clara County Jail and face various charges, including armed robbery, unlawful operation of a motor vehicle, resisting law enforcement, burglary and vandalism, the DPS said.

Some of the stolen jewelry was recovered, DPS said. The total value of the stolen jewelry was not initially known.

According to DPS, the victims of the robbery were not injured.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Detective Thomas McKenzie at 408-730-7110.