Early Friday morning, a brazen smash-and-grab robbery targeted a store within the Fashion Fair Shopping Center in Fresno, California, resulting in the arrest of four teenagers. The incident, which unfolded at approximately 3 a.m., involved the teens using a stolen vehicle to forcibly enter a clothing store and make off with thousands of dollars in merchandise.
Surveillance footage captured the dramatic events at the Shiekhs store, located within the popular Fashion Fair Mall. The video clearly shows the four suspects, aged between 15 and 17, ramming a stolen car into the store’s entrance doors. The forceful impact shattered the doors, allowing the teens to rush inside and quickly grab armfuls of apparel.
The swift operation saw the group dash into the store a second time, further loading up on clothing before fleeing the scene. Store employees are estimating that the stolen merchandise is valued at least ten thousand dollars. The quick and decisive actions of the Fresno Police Department, aided by Fashion Fair security, were instrumental in the rapid apprehension of the suspects.
“Officers were able to give a description of the suspect vehicle with the assistance of security at Fashion Fair and broadcast that suspect information which was a grey Kia,” stated Fresno Police Sergeant Diana Trueba Vega. This crucial information disseminated swiftly led to a prompt response from Sheriff’s Deputies.
Minutes after the broadcast, Sheriff’s Deputies located a vehicle matching the description and attempted a traffic stop at the intersection of Fresno Street and Shields Avenue. However, the suspects refused to yield, leading to a vehicle pursuit. In a reckless attempt to evade capture, one of the occupants even discharged a fire extinguisher out of the car window towards a pursuing patrol car.
The chase came to an end a short distance away on Santa Ana Avenue, where the four suspects abandoned the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. A coordinated response from multiple law enforcement agencies, quickly establishing a perimeter in the surrounding neighborhood, resulted in the apprehension of all four individuals. “While they might’ve thought that they were organized, they were definitely no match for our officers,” Sgt. Vega commented, highlighting the effectiveness of the police response.
Investigations revealed that the crime spree began prior to the Fashion Fair Shopping Center robbery. An ABC30 insider recognized the stolen vehicle and shared footage confirming the same four suspects stealing the Kia used in the smash-and-grab. The vehicle theft occurred at the Villas Del Norte Apartments, situated off Ashlan and Hughes Avenue. Sgt. Vega noted an increasing trend in Kia vehicle thefts, citing a “susceptibility for being stolen” in certain models since last year.
While the owner of the stolen vehicle grapples with the aftermath of the theft, employees at the Shiekhs store are left to pick up the pieces after the latest break-in. Employees reported at least three similar incidents in the past year alone. This particular incident was described as more “intense” due to the use of a vehicle to breach the store. However, in a positive turn, all of the stolen merchandise was recovered and returned to the store, according to an employee who wished to remain anonymous. She also mentioned that the store maintains its exterior doors locked at all times due to the frequent break-in attempts, emphasizing the ongoing security challenges faced by businesses at Fashion Fair Shopping Center.
The four suspects remain in custody and are facing a range of serious charges including burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle, and conspiracy to commit a felony. This incident underscores the persistent issue of retail crime and the importance of robust security measures at shopping centers like Fashion Fair to protect businesses and ensure public safety.
