A Chilean national arrested in Southern California this week has been connected to the explosive ATM robbery at San Ramon's Target store, revealing the incident as part of a sophisticated multi-million-dollar crime spree that spanned three states and netted more than $4 million from financial institutions across the West Coast.
Diego Ananias Arellano Diaz, who also goes by the alias Fabio Cristian Hernandez, was arrested July 29 in Newport Beach and identified by the San Ramon Police Department as one of the suspects responsible for detonating an improvised explosive device at the Target ATM on July 20. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California, the explosion occurred at approximately 2:19 a.m. inside the store at The Shops at Bishop Ranch, damaging the interior near the eastern entrance but fortunately causing no injuries.
Part of Sophisticated Chilean Robbery Crew
The San Ramon bombing represents just the latest chapter in what Mercury News describes as a "heist movie"-style operation involving 11 Chilean nationals who systematically targeted vulnerable ATMs and banks across California, Oregon, and Washington between May and October 2024. Arellano was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 31, 2024, but remained at large until his recent arrest.
The crew employed remarkably sophisticated tactics to avoid detection, according to the Danville San Ramon. Members rented short-term vacation properties near their intended targets and used cars obtained through black market sources. They disguised themselves as construction workers, complete with hard hats and safety vests, while carrying blowtorches, cellphone jammers, sledgehammers, and in some cases, explosive devices to breach ATM machines and bank vaults.
Rising Trend of ATM Explosions Nationally
The use of explosives in ATM robberies reflects a troubling trend that has emerged internationally. NL Times has documented similar patterns, with Dutch criminals conducting hundreds of explosive ATM robberies in Germany, Austria, and other countries. The sophisticated nature of these operations suggests organized criminal networks are sharing techniques across international borders.
Local law enforcement agencies across the Bay Area have noted an uptick in ATM-related crimes. NBC Bay Area reported that Pleasanton police issued warnings about ATM robberies in June, noting that while overall violent crime decreased by 10% in 2024, robberies have nearly doubled since 2022. The escalation to explosive devices represents a particularly concerning development for communities that have historically experienced low crime rates.
Multi-Agency Investigation Spans Three States
The investigation into the Chilean robbery crew involved an unprecedented level of coordination among law enforcement agencies. According to CBS Sacramento, the case required collaboration between the FBI, police departments in Burbank, Citrus Heights, Clovis, Elk Grove, Fresno, Garden Grove, Modesto, Newport Beach, Rocklin, Roseville, Sacramento, and San Ramon, along with the Placer County Sheriff's Office.
Additional support came from the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff's Office, Seattle Police Department, and four separate U.S. Attorney's Offices spanning multiple judicial districts. The targets included banks and ATM kiosks in diverse locations from Modesto to Fall River Mills in Northern California, extending through Oregon and Washington state.
Financial Impact and Legal Consequences
The total financial impact of the crew's activities exceeded $4 million in stolen cash from more than 29 targeted financial institutions. The sophisticated methods employed by the group often resulted in damage that far exceeded the amount of money stolen, a pattern commonly seen in explosive ATM robberies worldwide.
Arellano faces severe federal penalties if convicted, including up to 20 years in prison for bank robbery and an additional five years for conspiracy to commit bank robbery. He also faces state-level charges in Los Angeles Superior Court for assault with a deadly weapon under his alias. According to KTVU, he will make his first federal court appearance following the completion of state proceedings.
Community Impact and Safety Measures
The bombing at the normally quiet San Ramon Target sent shockwaves through the East Bay community, which consistently ranks as one of the safest areas in California. The incident prompted immediate FBI involvement, as reported by Hoodline, and highlighted vulnerabilities in commercial ATM security that extend far beyond the immediate region.
San Ramon police are urging anyone with information about the July 20 explosion to contact detectives at (925) 973-2700, with options for anonymous reporting. The investigation remains active as authorities work to determine whether additional crew members remain at large and to connect evidence from the San Ramon blast to other unsolved attacks across the region.
