Guns and Lenses Scattered on the Sidewalk After Camera Store Robbery
Camera equipment was scattered across the sidewalk along with firearms after a violent robbery at a photo store left one employee injured.
Five men have been arrested in connection with Wednesday’s robbery and shooting at San Jose Camera and Video in the Bay Area.
The five suspects stole thousands of dollars worth of camera gear from the family-owned store in downtown Campbell. As the suspects fled, an employee followed them outside and was shot multiple times.
The employee was rushed to hospital and has since been stabilized, reports NBC Bay Area.
Campbell police enlisted the help of eyewitnesses and partner agencies to apprehend all five suspects just a few hours after the brutal robbery.
The suspects were identified as Orlando Oliva, 22; Paris Williams, 22; Darrin Bedford, 23; Kenneth Martin, 23; and Freddy McCardie, 21. They were booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on attempted murder, robbery with a firearm, kidnapping and conspiracy charges, police say.
“The Campbell Police Department extends our gratitude to the community for providing crucial information and photographic evidence of the suspects and vehicle, which proved instrumental in the arrests,” the department says in a statement.
“This outcome could not have been possible without the involvement of the Oakland Police Department and the United States Marshals Service. We greatly appreciate their pivotal role in locating and apprehending the suspects.”
Community Store
San Jose Camera and Video has been open since 1929 and is relied upon by photographers in the area. The store says it will remain closed until January 30 for the mental well-being of its staff.
“We in the community have been noticing the uptick of violent crimes,” local photographer Rhea Bevere tells NBC Bay Area.
“To have a store like that so close by is huge. And it’s been there for as long as I’ve been doing this. You see many of the same people behind the counter year after year.”
Camera Crime in the Bay Area
PetaPixel has been documenting the camera crime wave in and around San Francisco highlighting a string of high-profile robberies.
Photographers have demanded action: “Get serious San Francisco, before it’s too late. Hire more police officers. Hire. Make it happen. Make arrests. Put people in jail for stealing things,” says Jefferson Graham.
Last month, PetaPixel spoke with San Francisco Mayor London Breed who says the City’s new budget “increased public safety investments to fill 200 vacant police officer positions, passed and implemented new laws to address unpermitted street vending to break up markets for stolen goods, and passed a new camera ordinance that allows the Police Department temporary access live camera footage as part of criminal investigations.”
