Two charged in violent takeover robbery of 14 Karats jewelry store in Berkeley

The 71-year-old store owner was pistol-whipped during the November robbery, police say.

OAKLAND — Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with a violent takeover robbery of a Berkeley jewelry store in which the 71-year-old owner was beaten with a pistol, court records show.

The suspects, aged 36 and 19, were charged Jan. 24 with robbery and various enhancements, including using firearms and targeting a vulnerable victim. They have pleaded not guilty. The 19-year-old remains in jail in lieu of $150,000 bail and the 36-year-old is out of custody, according to court records.

Police say three robbers targeted the 14 Karats jewelry store on the 2900 block of College Avenue in Berkeley. One pointed a gun at the owner while two others smashed cases and grabbed jewelry estimated at $95,000. After the robbery they fled in an Audi.

Five days later, police in Emeryville observed the same Audi traveling at 100 miles per hour, and with a helicopter, chased it to Oakland, where the 36-year-old was arrested. Through social media evidence, DNA, GPS cellphone records, and video surveillance, investigators linked him and the second suspect to the store robbery.

Police say they are working to identify the third robber, and also investigating whether the same group was involved in a store robbery in San Francisco where a similar-looking Audi was seen.