A well-known family-run jewelry store in Oakland faced a harrowing armed robbery, marking the most severe incident in its over four-decade history.
Phuong Jewelry, located in the heart of Oakland’s Chinatown, was targeted by eight armed individuals in a midday heist that left the store severely depleted of its inventory.
The Incident Unfolded
Surveillance footage captured the chilling moment when eight suspects shattered almost every display case in the store. Diana Trinh, aged 69, was seen taking cover and screaming for assistance as the robbery unfolded.
Compounding the lack of in-store security at the time, her 76-year-old husband intervened, brandishing a firearm, which ultimately caused the robbers to flee the scene. However, within less than a minute, a significant portion of the store’s inventory was stolen.
“We’ve been robbed a few times before but not at this level of brazen magnitude. Eight individuals and two getaway cars and guns were drawn,” Trinh remarked.
“If he hadn’t done that they would have kept going,” Trinh stated.
“Her entire life’s work and savings are gone in a few minutes. It’s rough. My mom is the leader of the pack. When she suffers I suffer,” Trinh said.
Consequences of the Robbery
The impact of the robbery extends beyond the immediate loss of goods. The Trinh family, proprietors of Phuong Jewelry, had recently allowed their business insurance to lapse due to increasing premium costs, exacerbating the financial blow. This lapse in coverage means the family faces the daunting task of covering the losses entirely out of pocket, which raises concerns about the store’s future viability.
Trinh, who also serves as the executive director of the Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council, has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to mitigate the financial devastation. The community-driven initiative aims to gather support to recover some of the losses incurred.
Police Investigation and Community Impact
The Oakland Police Department has confirmed that the investigation into the robbery is ongoing. The incident not only represents a significant loss for the Trinh family but also a disturbance to the sense of security within the Oakland Chinatown community. As the area grapples with crime, the resilience of business owners like Trinh, coupled with community support mechanisms, plays a pivotal role in recovery and deterrence of future criminal activities.
“I’ve seen tremendous progress even though it doesn’t feel like that. In terms of cleaning and safety, there are a lot more out there ambassadors. We have walking officers, during the pandemic we didn’t,” he said.
Trinh admits that he is not sure if the store will stay in business.
“Would love to but with the environment and how tough it’s been, we don’t know yet,” he said.
Looking Forward
The robbery at Phuong Jewelry is a call to action for the jewelry industry to re-evaluate and reinforce security protocols and insurance strategies. As the community and industry rally around the Trinh family, the broader implications for similar small businesses are clear: robust preventative measures and solid crisis management plans are indispensable in safeguarding both assets and the well-being of those involved in the jewelry trade.
