California police bust gang behind 12 smash-and-grab jewelry heists

The arrests followed an Aug. 9 raid in Palm Desert, where four masked men stormed a jewelry shop on Highway 111, smashed glass cases with hammers and escaped with $87,000 worth of gold and diamonds.

Investigators later traced the crime back to a larger network of thieves who had carried out at least 12 similar heists since May in Orange, Los Angeles and Riverside counties, KTLA reported.

The suspects, aged between 20 and 41, are now being held at the John Benoit Detention Center. They face a battery of charges including armed robbery, grand theft, burglary and felony vandalism, CBS News reported.

The same day, police in San Ramon, Contra Costa County, announced the arrest of seven other suspects linked to a brazen robbery at Heller Jewelers. In that heist, nearly 25 masked assailants armed with hammers and at least one firearm stormed the store, overwhelming staff and customers before fleeing with an estimated $1 million in jewelry.

The crime wave has also hit immigrant-owned businesses. Earlier this month, two Vietnamese-owned jewelry stores in San Jose: Kim Hung and Fine Jewelry, were targeted by armed gangs.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the suspected crime networks and have urged the public to share any information that could help track down accomplices.