Robbers adopted a Southern California couple house for miles and ripped precious heirloom jewels out of the girl’s arms in a terrifying assault partly caught on tape, officers stated Wednesday.
Dr. Vijay Wali and his spouse, Dr. Jyotika Wali, had simply pulled into their driveway in Fullerton on Friday evening when two males attacked, one pouncing on every of them, the household stated.
The couple had simply visited a jewellery retailer 16 miles away in Cerritos to have varied household jewels polished.
As Jyotika was about to enter the home and Vijay was unloading the trunk, a person ran proper at him, he stated.
“So I began screaming, ‘Jyotika, Jyotika, Jyotika, lock the door, lock the door, lock the door,'” Vijay Wali stated in an interview Tuesday evening.
The person punched Vijay Wali within the head and threw him on the bottom, he stated. When his spouse returned to assist, one other attacker went proper at her, the couple stated.
The couple’s daughter, Dr. Priyanka Wali, was in the home. She stated the primary attacker yelled “take it from her, take it from her” on the second assailant in Spanish.
Jyotika Wali stated: “I used to be instantly attacked by one other man, and my purse was taken, and I noticed my husband had been assaulted, and I screamed for assist. My daughter was inside the home and referred to as 911. But it surely was already over earlier than you might perceive” what had occurred.
The lads acquired away in two automobiles, a grey or silver Nissan Altima and a black Honda Odyssey, pushed by two different males, Priyanka Wali stated. The face of at the very least one attacker was clearly captured by safety cameras on the home, whereas one of many two drivers was caught on digicam on the jewellery retailer, the household stated.
Fullerton Police Sgt. Ryan O’Neil stated detectives are engaged on a “house invasion theft,” however he declined to elaborate.
“At the moment, it’s nonetheless an lively and ongoing investigation,” he stated. “To guard the integrity of the investigation, we won’t be releasing any info presently.”
The robbers’ journey to comply with the Walis was much more horrifying, as a result of the couple did not go straight house from the jewellery retailer.
They “took some streets from the freeway, which we usually do not take,” by making a fast cease at Jyotika Wali’s workplace and testing some close by Christmas lights earlier than they acquired house, her husband stated.
The household stated they’ve seen video of the attackers maintaining a tally of the couple on the Cerritos jewellery retailer and at Jyotika Wali’s workplace.
“They have been extremely organized and extremely expert at what they’re doing,” Priyanka Wali stated. “This undoubtedly did not seem to be their first time.”
Among the many gadgets stolen was a dehjoor, a hexagonal jewel worn off the ear of a Kashmiri Hindu bride.
“And so it has deep, deep symbolic significance in our tradition, and there have been generations of jewellery stolen,” stated Priyanka Wali, who’s engaged to be married and had anticipated to obtain a few of the jewels in ceremonies.
The household have been traumatized by the assault, however each victims nonetheless went to work over the weekend. Jyotika Wali is a major care doctor who labored Saturday, whereas her husband is an emergency room physician who did a shift on Christmas Eve.
“I am scared to return again house,” Jyotika stated, including that she now jumps in concern on the sounds of firecrackers she thinks is perhaps gunshots.
She added: “That is no method to stay. I imply, it appears like there is no such thing as a legislation. It is very scary.”
Priyanka Wali, additionally a practising doctor, stated she’s undecided whether or not her household will ever be capable of shake the concern introduced on by Friday evening’s assault.
“Emotional trauma and bodily trauma are one and the identical factor,” she stated. “So sure, we could possibly stroll and discuss and have all of our limbs and very important organs functioning, however emotionally the harm has been completely devastating.”
This text was initially printed on NBCNews.com
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