8 suspects arrested after stealing jewelry in Fort Worth grocery store robbery, police say
A group of robbery suspects have been arrested after police say they smashed glass display cases and stole jewelry from a north Fort Worth grocery store.
Officers responded to the robbery at El Rancho Supermercado, at 3220 N. Main St. in the Diamond Hill neighborhood, about 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9.
It was reported that four men went inside the business and smashed the glass display, took jewelry and left, police said.
Police records show that eight people — six men and two women — were arrested in connection to the robbery.
Lester Emerson, 36, of Houston; Christian Venson, 25, of Houston; and Reginald Mitchell, 22, of Katy, face robbery charges, according to jail records.
Shonton Howard, 36, of Channelview; Daniya Smith, 17, of Houston; Vanessa Thompson, 23, of Houston; Dexter Mitchell, 33, of Houston; and Dexter Ray Mitchell, 51, of Humble, face charges of engaging in organized criminal activity, according to jail records.
The robbery unit is investigating the case, police said.
Police have not released further details about what led to the arrests, the value of the stolen jewelry or whether it was recovered.
A similar smash-and-grab robbery was reported in December at an East Dallas location of El Rancho Supermercado, Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV reported. In that case, thieves took about $600,000 worth of jewelry.
Another similar crime occurred at a Houston location of the same business in November, WFAA reported.
Police have not confirmed whether the crimes in the different cities are believed to be connected.
This story was originally published February 11, 2025 at 2:09 PM.