The Modesto Police Department announced four men have been arrested in connection with a smash-and-grab robbery, including a El Cerrito man.
On Sunday, May 18, 2025, shortly before 6:00 p.m., Modesto Police Department officers responded to a robbery in progress at Sai Jewelers, located at 2900 Standiford Avenue. A red Mitsubishi had rammed the store’s front doors, allowing multiple suspects—wearing hoodies, masks, and gloves—to enter the business and steal a large quantity of jewelry before fleeing in several vehicles.
Just minutes before the robbery call, officers had been investigating a stolen vehicle after it was flagged by the department’s License Plate Reader (LPR) system. That investigation resulted in the arrest of four individuals. Inside their vehicle, officers found items similar to those used in the jewelry store robbery.
Information developed during the stolen vehicle investigation led detectives to believe the two incidents were connected. The department’s advanced monitoring tools—including its network of LPRs and citywide camera system—played a critical role in identifying and tracking those involved.
Modesto Police Department detectives took over the case and have since linked this robbery crew to similar incidents in Oakland, Alameda County, and Beverly Hills.
The four suspects arrested are:
- Nasir Blocker, 19, of Oakland, CA
Charges: Robbery, Conspiracy, Stolen Vehicle
Bail: $2,000,000 - Anton Crawford, 24, of Oakland, CA
Charges: Robbery, Conspiracy, Stolen Vehicle
Bail: $1,000,000 - Gangster Lawson, 24, of El Cerrito, CA
Charges: Robbery, Conspiracy, Vehicle Theft
Bail: $1,000,000 - Nehemiah Miller, 21, of Valley Springs, CA
Charges: Robbery, Conspiracy, Vehicle TheftBail: $1,000,000
