SUNNYVALE, California — What could have been another devastating smash-and-grab robbery in the Bay Area was stopped before it began, after Sunnyvale police intercepted a group of suspects armed with sledgehammers outside a jewelry store Sunday afternoon. The confrontation sparked a high-speed chase and underscored a growing wave of large-scale retail thefts impacting businesses across Northern California.
20 Suspects Armed With Sledgehammers
The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (DPS) said around 20 individuals pulled up to a jewelry store on El Camino Real, intending to smash their way inside and steal merchandise. Witnesses described suspects preparing to rush the store before officers arrived in time.
“The proactive route to the scene potentially quelled the theft before it could begin,” DPS said in a statement.
Startled by the rapid police response, the group abandoned their attempt and fled in a stolen vehicle.
High-Speed Pursuit Through the Bay Area
The failed robbery attempt quickly escalated into a dangerous chase, with suspects leading DPS and later the California Highway Patrol (CHP) through busy roadways…