Couple Followed For 16 Miles, Robbed And Assaulted Following Jewelry Store Visit
Photo : Stills captured from the surveillance video and posted on social media including by Dr.Priyanka Wali
India-West News Desk
FULLERTON, CA – In a disturbing incident that unfolded here, Drs. Vijay and Jyotika Wali, a couple residing in the area, became victims of a brazen robbery and assault on the evening of December 22. The shocking events were captured on surveillance footage and shared on social media by their daughter, Dr. Priyanka Wali.
The ordeal began when the Kashmiri Pandit couple went jewelry shopping in Artesia’s Little India neighborhood, as revealed in the video uploaded by Dr. Priyanka Wali. Surveillance footage from the store shows the couple leaving in their white Tesla at 6:54 p.m. A black Honda Odyssey with tinted windows is seen following them.
Upon arriving home in Fullerton at 7:47 p.m., the duo noticed that the Honda Odyssey, along with another white vehicle, was still tailing them. Security footage from their residence captured the chilling moments when the suspects approached the couple.
Approximately a minute after parking, one suspect targeted Jyotika, stealing her purse, which contained valuable jewelry and ancestral heirlooms, according to Dr. Priyanka Wali. Simultaneously, another person assaulted Vijay throwing him against the car and knocking him to the ground before fleeing the scene.
The stolen items’ value is yet to be determined, and the Fullerton Police Department has confirmed its active investigation into the incident. However, they have not released any suspect descriptions at this time.
Priyanka Wali, taking to social media, emphasized the organized nature of the crime, pointing out that her parents had been followed for over 16 miles. She also highlighted that the perpetrators were heard speaking Spanish during the assault, adding a layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation.
Vijay is an Emergency Medicine Physician at Anaheim Regional Medical Center. Jyotika is an internist with Providence Affiliated Physicians, St. Jude.
