Rash Of Costco Robberies, Burglaries: Bay Area Investigators Piece Together Leads

DANVILLE, CA — Another Bay Area Costco was burglarized last weekend by a band of masked suspects, police officials said. The most recent in the rash of Costco jewelry smash-and-grab-style robberies and burglaries took place in Novato on Sunday morning. This one was caught on camera, and police have released the video in hopes of identifying the suspects.

Police said three suspects wearing surgical masks and hooded sweatshirts quickly entered the store on July 30 then used a hammer to break a glass display case and steal jewelry. No weapon was seen during the incident. The suspects fled the parking lot in a getaway vehicle before police arrived. The vehicle is described as a dark-colored, four-door sedan similar to a Chevy Sonic, with paper dealer plates, police said.

On May 19, the Danville Costco was robbed by two suspects, who smashed a display case and stole merchandise, firing a gun one time before fleeing the store. The same Costco was allegedly robbed by three masked suspects earlier that month. Police arrested Oakland resident Kesean Edwards, 21, in connection with the alleged robbery attempt. Two suspects in that case are still at large. The Foster City Costco was hit in a similar smash-and-grab armed robbery in June.

• Danville Costco Robbery: Shots Fired, Say Police
• Danville Costco Robberies: Detectives Investigating Possible Link To Similar Peninsula Crime

Police investigators say they are actively working with multiple agencies and are meeting later this week to try to put the pieces of the Costco cases together. Police in Novato said Costco employees across the Bay Area have been on alert in the wake of the brazen robberies and burglaries, and they encourage customers who see something suspicious in the parking lot or the store to call police immediately. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news from your California neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app. Also, be sure to follow your local Patch on Facebook!)

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Novato police at (415) 897-4361.

Video embed, screenshot courtesy Novato Police Department Facebook