A Devastating Robbery and Its Lasting Impact
Linh arrived at her uncle’s jewelry store in San Jose earlier this month, only to find a scene of chaos. Police cars surrounded the location, and her 88-year-old uncle was sitting in a chair outside, visibly shaken and in shock. The incident had occurred just minutes before, when a car rammed into the front of Kim Hung Jewelry on Aborn Road.
A group of more than a dozen people rushed into the store, smashed the jewelry cases, and fled with a large amount of stolen goods. Linh’s uncle was violently shoved to the ground by one of the robbers. This brazen act of violence became the center of international headlines and sparked widespread outrage. It was part of a growing trend of smash-and-grab robberies in the Bay Area, with similar incidents reported across the region.
Less than a minute after the initial robbery, a second group of four individuals entered the already ransacked store. They were dressed in black hoodies and masks, armed with hammers, and quickly ran back to their car upon realizing the cases were empty. Linh shared video footage of the event, showing the white sedan pulling up and the group rushing in and out in seconds.
Linh’s cousin, who had been working in the store, was about to call the police when the second group arrived. He simply stood there, watching the scene unfold. “He just stayed there and looked at them,” Linh said.
Kim Hung Jewelry was the life’s work of Linh’s uncle, Bui, who she asked be identified only by his family name due to safety concerns. Bui started as a jeweler in Vietnam and opened his first store in California about 40 years ago. The robbery not only shattered the physical space but also deeply affected the emotional well-being of the entire family.
Aftermath and Health Consequences
After the robbery, Linh immediately checked on her uncle for injuries. His toes were bloodied from broken glass, and he had a bruise on his neck and a cut on his hand. At first, none of the injuries seemed severe. However, when a cousin arrived with a first aid kit, they discovered more serious issues. The bottoms of Bui’s feet were covered in blood, and three shards of glass were embedded in his feet. Despite the pain, Bui did not feel anything.
“I asked him, ‘Uncle, do you feel it under your feet?’” Linh recalled. “Three pieces of the glass stuck on. He did not feel it.”
When paramedics arrived, they found that Bui had suffered a stroke, which was linked to the extreme stress of the robbery. During his hospital stay, he also experienced a heart attack while on blood thinners. Doctors confirmed both the stroke and heart attack were directly related to the trauma of the robbery.
Bui spent two days in the hospital and was later sent home, where Linh’s cousin has been caring for him. The family visits daily, trying to support him through the recovery process. While Bui is recovering from the heart attack and stroke, his mental health remains a concern. When Linh visited him recently, he kept saying, “It’s so scary.”
Broader Impacts on the Community
The robbery also left a lasting impact on Bui’s son, who was traumatized when a robber pointed a gun at his head. Linh described the moment as “between the death and the life.”
Despite the devastation, Linh expressed gratitude for the support her family has received from the Vietnamese community and residents of San Jose. She emphasized the importance of community safety for everyone, not just the Vietnamese population.
The jewelry store will remain closed for two to three months while repairs are made. New showcases need to be ordered, the storefront must be reinforced, and special-order supplies are required. Although the store has insurance, some repair costs will have to be covered out of pocket. Additionally, the family will bear part of the medical expenses not covered by insurance.
Even once the store reopens, Bui will not return. “We don’t allow him to go to the store anymore,” Linh said. “If it happened again, what would happen to him if we’re not catching it on time?”
“We feel bad, we feel sad,” Linh added. “Jewelry is his life. He’s very sad if he cannot go back to the store.”
