‘We no longer accept the norm’: Councilman demands change after elderly jewelry store owner attacked in brazen smash-and-grab caught on camera

An 88-year-old jewelry store owner in San Jose is recovering after being violently attacked during a brazen smash-and-grab robbery that was caught on surveillance video. The incident occurred Friday afternoon at Kim Hung Jewelry on Aborn Road, where more than a dozen masked suspects backed an SUV through the store’s windows before rushing inside to steal merchandise, local KTVU reported.

Surveillance footage shows the elderly owner standing behind a display case when the SUV crashes through the front of his store. About 16 suspects, mostly dressed in black clothing and wearing masks, then pour into the business. One suspect uses a hammer to smash display cases while another pushes the elderly owner to the ground as he tries to stop them from taking jewelry. The entire robbery lasted less than two minutes before the group fled in multiple vehicles.

According to Fox News, San Jose City Councilmember Bien Doan spoke at a community news conference following the incident, expressing his outrage at the violence. “We no longer accept the norm. We ask for change,” Doan said, highlighting the need for stronger action against organized retail crime. The councilmember emphasized how devastating such attacks can be for small business owners who have spent their lives building their businesses.

Store owner suffers serious injuries during attack

The 88-year-old store owner suffered a stroke following the traumatic incident and was also cut by broken glass from the smashed displays. His niece, who found him outside the store shortly after the robbery, said he was taken to the hospital where doctors confirmed he had suffered a stroke. He was released Sunday but remains deeply traumatized by the experience. After running the jewelry business for nearly 40 years, family members say he may never return to work. The gaming industry has also seen similar violent robberies targeting valuable merchandise.

The damage to Kim Hung Jewelry is estimated between $50,000 and $100,000, according to community activist Chris Moore. The family has chosen not to release the estimated value of the stolen jewelry. The store’s front entrance was completely destroyed and has been boarded up following the attack. Most of the jewelry was already secured in a safe, which likely prevented even greater losses.

San Jose police confirmed that at least one suspect was armed with a firearm during the robbery. The department said multiple suspects entered the store after driving the vehicle through the front windows, broke display cases, and fled in several vehicles before officers arrived. No arrests have been made and the suspects remain unidentified and at large. The police robbery unit is actively investigating the incident.

Community leaders demand action against retail crime

The violent robbery has become so serious that local officials and community activists gathered Sunday for a news conference outside the damaged store. The Coalition for Community Engagement organized the event to spotlight the urgent need for stronger deterrents against organized retail crime. Milpitas Mayor Carmen Montano described the situation as “a crime wave that’s happening everywhere” and called for better funding to combat these coordinated attacks.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan condemned the robbery on social media, calling it “appalling” and saying that watching the elderly man get assaulted “made my blood boil.” The mayor promised to follow the investigation closely and called for the suspects to face the harshest possible consequences. Despite San Jose recently being ranked as one of the safest large cities in the United States, residents and business owners continue to express concerns about targeted retail crimes affecting small businesses.