- Usman Bhatti single-handedly defended a jewelry store in San Bruno, California
- The store owner pulled out a legally owned firearm at the group of thieves
- The incident comes amidst growing criticisms of LA County DA George Gascón
This is the moment a jewelry store owner in California takes the law into his own hands and defends his store from being robbed by armed thieves smashing up the displays.
It comes in the wake of shocking spike in smash and grab robberies across shoplifters’ paradise California after soft policies of progressives including Los Angeles County DA George Gascón.
It’s at least the third robbery attempt reported this month in the Bay Area alone, including theft attempts from a gang of hammer-wielding thugs who swiped upward of $110,000 in jewelry from a mall and a group of thieves, two of whom didn’t even bother covering their faces, who filled trash bags with cosmetics at an Ulta Beauty salon.
Amazing surveillance footage shows Usman Bhatti, owner of Maaz Jewelers in Tanofran Mall in San Bruno, California, shove away a suspect who ran into his store and began breaking the display case.
Speaking to FOX KTVU, the store owner said: ‘I’m not trying to be a hero or a macho man.
‘It just happened very quick and I had no choice.’
Bhatti, who had a concealed carry permit, faced off against armed thieves on January 21.
San Bruno Police officers responded to an attempted robbery of a jewelry store around 1.06pm.
Police said five male suspects approached the store and one pulled out a crowbar to enter the jeweler’s as Bhatti yelled for him to stop.
In the clip Bhatti can be seen pulling up a gun and scaring the culprit, who fled the scene, away
Police said five male suspects approached the store and one pulled out a crowbar to enter the jeweler’s as Bhatti yelled for him to stop
As the burglar began to smash up glass he then turned to Bhatti, as if poised to hit him with the crowbar.
Bhatti drew a firearm at the suspect, who then ran off while another suspect pulled out a gun and pointed it a the store owner.
All five suspects fled away from the store. No one was injured and no weapons were used in the incident.
Police described the suspects as ‘males in their teens to early 20’s’.
Bhatti’s ordeal with the armed smash-and-grab gang is one of several across California in the past year, many expressing frustration at DA Gascón’s handling of criminals.