Dallas, TX– Multiple suspects are on the loose after a brazen smash-and-grab theft of about $600,000 worth of jewelry from a small family-owned business located inside an East Dallas supermarket.
The robbery took place at the El Rancho Supermercado on Gus Thomasson Road around 4:40 p.m. Sunday when at least four suspects targeted a jewelry display inside the store. Surveillance footage shared by the store’s owner with WFAA News shows the suspects smashing jewelry cases with a hammer and quickly making off with hands full of jewelry.
In one of the video clips, Angel Cuenca, the business owner’s son, stands behind the jewelry counter as the thieves approach from the front. Cuenca can be heard shouting, “Whoa!” as the situation escalates.
Cuenca was helping his mother run her jewelry business, Joyeria Princesa, inside the supermarket. He said his mother was in the restroom when the robbery began. In the footage, she can be heard crying and screaming as she rushes back to the robbery scene.
Cuenca told NBC 5 DFW that the thieves targeted the showcase with the most expensive jewelry, leading him to believe that the robbers had cased the scene in advance.
“It was like extremely premeditated,” Cuenca said.
The jewelry store, a family-owned operation, was built with years of hard work and sacrifice. Cuenca’s mother started the business with a $3,000 loan, working tirelessly, often putting in 80 hours a week. Tragically, the jewelry stolen was uninsured, leaving the family with a huge financial void, according to WFAA.
“When we got home, she was still crying for the rest of the night,” Cuenca told WFAA. “Unfortunately, a lot of the hard work she put into this store was thrown out the window yesterday in the span of 30 seconds.”
Cuenca and his mother are devastated by the loss, both financially and emotionally. The small family business had been a cornerstone of their lives, and the theft has left them feeling vulnerable.
Despite the dramatic footage, which captures the suspects in action, Dallas police have not made any arrests. Authorities are still investigating the incident and have not released any further information.
Surveillance footage of the suspects has been shared publicly in the hopes of generating leads on the robbery. Anyone with information can contact the Dallas Police Department directly to provide help. According to NBC 5, the associated case reference number for the theft is 193739-2024.
A similar robbery occurred in November at a Houston El Rancho supermarket, but authorities have not commented on whether the two robberies are linked, NBC 5 reported.
For now, the Cuenca family is left to rebuild after a robbery that has shattered not only their business but also their sense of security.
If you have any information regarding this incident or information on the suspects, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.
Article provided by Joe Edwards of the Dallas express. Click here to view article.