SAN JOSE — A 27-year-old Nevada man is in custody and four others are being sought in connection with a smash-and-grab robbery last week at Westfield Valley Fair mall, police said.
On Oct. 5, five masked male suspects entered the Gucci store and stole $50,000 worth of purses and other merchandise, the San Jose Police Department said in a news release Tuesday.
An officer detained one of the suspects, who “immediately resisted” and threw punches, police said. Mall security personnel helped the officer take the suspect into custody after a brief struggle.
The suspect was booked into Santa Clara County jail on charges of assault on an officer, organized retail theft, possession of burglary tools, robbery and a Nevada warrant.
Two stolen purses were recovered, police said.
The other suspects escaped before additional officers arrived at the scene, police said.
Detectives are using video footage and other evidence to identify the at-large suspects, police said. Footage of the suspects entering the Gucci store was released Tuesday.
Anyone with information about the case or similar cases can contact the police department’s robbery unit at 408-277-4166. Tips can also be left with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867 or svcrimestoppers.org.
