A Stockton couple is at a loss of what to do next. They were robbed right outside of their home, and this is not the first time they were hit by thieves.Guillermo Garcia was in front of his home on Kermit Lane on Jan. 25 when a person approached him. Surveillance video shows a robber in a hoodie wrestling a box of gold, diamonds and cash from Guillermo, who said he was also pistol-whipped before the person ran off.The robbery has impacted Guillermo and his wife’s, Betty Andrade-Garcia’s, small business, Guillermo’s Jewelers on South San Joaquin Street in downtown Stockton. It has been central to downtown Stockton for the past 32 years. Guillermo is a skilled certified jeweler and gemologist, however, the January incident has left him unnerved.”I have nightmares. Sometimes I can’t sleep and it’s a real bad feeling,” Guillermo said. Guillermo and Betty shared surveillance footage of that night, as the couple was seen pulling up their home on Kermit Lane, a man in a hooded sweatshirt, with what appeared to be a gun, ran up to a Guillermo, then grabbed the plastic bin from the 75-year-old’s hands.Guillermo said he blacked out after being pistol-whipped. By the time he woke up, he realized the robber got away with about $400,000 worth of goods. “I’ve been feeling so bad because I lost practically my life work,” Guillermo said.The Garcias said while this is the first time they have been robbed in front of their home, they’ve dealt with ongoing theft before. From break-ins, grab-and-runs, and burglaries over the past 10 years from their downtown storefront. For the past six months, the couple decided it was best to take their most expensive items home.The trauma of that evening still haunts the couple. Betty says she doesn’t wish this feeling on anyone.”Whoever did this, you have parents and I’m hoping that nothing ever happens to your parents like this,” Betty said. However, if the past 32 years in downtown Stockton have shown, the Garcias are a mainstay of Stockton. “We’re not going to close, you know. It’s not going to get us down. This is our baby,” Betty said. Guillermo, who lost his right eye as a child, also remains determined to continue his craft. “I’m not quitting. It’s going to take something more than this to make me quit. I was raised up to be a fighter and I’m going to fight all the way,” Betty said.The couple said a $10,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest. If you have any information, please contact Stockton police Detective Aaron Clark at 209-937-8323 or leave an anonymous tip with crime stoppers: StocktonCrimeStoppers.org.
A Stockton couple is at a loss of what to do next. They were robbed right outside of their home, and this is not the first time they were hit by thieves.
Guillermo Garcia was in front of his home on Kermit Lane on Jan. 25 when a person approached him. Surveillance video shows a robber in a hoodie wrestling a box of gold, diamonds and cash from Guillermo, who said he was also pistol-whipped before the person ran off.
The robbery has impacted Guillermo and his wife’s, Betty Andrade-Garcia’s, small business, Guillermo’s Jewelers on South San Joaquin Street in downtown Stockton. It has been central to downtown Stockton for the past 32 years.
Guillermo is a skilled certified jeweler and gemologist, however, the January incident has left him unnerved.
“I have nightmares. Sometimes I can’t sleep and it’s a real bad feeling,” Guillermo said.
Guillermo and Betty shared surveillance footage of that night, as the couple was seen pulling up their home on Kermit Lane, a man in a hooded sweatshirt, with what appeared to be a gun, ran up to a Guillermo, then grabbed the plastic bin from the 75-year-old’s hands.
Guillermo said he blacked out after being pistol-whipped. By the time he woke up, he realized the robber got away with about $400,000 worth of goods.
“I’ve been feeling so bad because I lost practically my life work,” Guillermo said.
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The Garcias said while this is the first time they have been robbed in front of their home, they’ve dealt with ongoing theft before. From break-ins, grab-and-runs, and burglaries over the past 10 years from their downtown storefront. For the past six months, the couple decided it was best to take their most expensive items home.
The trauma of that evening still haunts the couple. Betty says she doesn’t wish this feeling on anyone.
“Whoever did this, you have parents and I’m hoping that nothing ever happens to your parents like this,” Betty said.
However, if the past 32 years in downtown Stockton have shown, the Garcias are a mainstay of Stockton.
“We’re not going to close, you know. It’s not going to get us down. This is our baby,” Betty said.
Guillermo, who lost his right eye as a child, also remains determined to continue his craft.
“I’m not quitting. It’s going to take something more than this to make me quit. I was raised up to be a fighter and I’m going to fight all the way,” Betty said.
The couple said a $10,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest. If you have any information, please contact Stockton police Detective Aaron Clark at 209-937-8323 or leave an anonymous tip with crime stoppers: StocktonCrimeStoppers.org.