Fremont Jewelry Raid Shows How California’s ‘Reforms’ Empower Criminal Mobs

I have covered a number of bold daytime robberies in California, exacerbated by closing prisons and criminal-supporting sentencing policies.

The incidents were so numerous that a phrase became a staple of reports describing these shocking thefts, “smash-and-grab” robberies.  In one instance, $5 million in jewelry from a Beverly Hills store was taken in a daytime heist.

Last June, there was another flash-mob-robbery at a store in Fremont, California. The Department of Justice recently released footage of the incident, and it is disturbing.

Video released by the U.S. Department of Justice shows a robbery crew brazenly strike a local jewelry store during the day with lightning speed, clearing out an estimated $1.7 million in jewelry in about 70 seconds.

The video, obtained by this news organization through a public records request, shows a seemingly chaotic scene. About two dozen robbers rush into Kumar Jewelers with picks, hammers and backpacks, smashing cases and stuffing their bags while the employees run for cover in the back....