San Ramon, CA — The San Ramon Police Department, in collaboration with the Oakland Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force, has apprehended a fifth suspect in connection with a high-profile East Bay jewelry heist that took place in March. With this arrest, all five individuals charged in relation to the robbery are now in custody.
On March 17, 2023, a brazen theft occurred at Heller Jewelers in San Ramon, resulting in the loss of $1.1 million worth of jewelry and watches, as reported by the United States Department of Justice. The robbery, executed by armed and masked assailants, transpired as bystanders hastily evacuated the premises.
According to details outlined in a criminal complaint, the suspects meticulously surveilled the store located at 6000 Bollinger Canyon Rd Suite 1506 approximately one week before executing the heist, subsequently returning on March 17 to carry out the audacious crime. The operation involved the participation of eleven individuals.
Earlier apprehensions in this case include the arrests of Sunia Mafileo Faavesi (age 30), Ryan Kentrell Montgomery (age 35), Paul Christopher Tonga (age 33), and Kyle Vehikite (age 34) on July 26. Investigative efforts were significantly aided by the tracking of a stolen Rolex watch using GPS information, leading to the identification of one of the suspects, as indicated in the criminal complaint.
