CLAYTON, MO (KMOX) - Since the emergence of the coronavirus, Asian-Americans have come under attack at work and on the streets. Now there's word their homes are being targeted, but investigators say it has nothing to do with the virus and it's not a hate crime.
It's home burglaries targeting Asian-American business owners and their employees.
St. Louis County Police Sgt. Joanie Jensen says it's believed to be a nationwide operation that started in the northeast in 2017 and first appeared here, starting in St. Charles County, a year later.
Jensen says they're being targeted by thieves who believe a stereotype about the victims.
"These suspects believe that these Asian-Americans have more jewelry and bigger cash in their homes," she says. "That's what they're finding and that's why they're being targeted."
The tactics, Jensen says, are the same nationwide. The thieves break in through the back door.
"Go straight for the bedroom, ransacking your drawers, like typical burglars do, looking for cash, looking for jewelry and they're in and out of the house and they're gone," she says.
Investigators got some of the intelligence about the operation from one of two suspects who were arrested in Town and Country in 2019. Jensen says one thing that suspect would not say is how they identify the homes of the intended targets.
She says the victim's are never home and no one is injured. The stolen goods don't show up in local pawn or jewelry shops, another sign it's not just a local operation.
The break-ins come and go in waves.
"They would come hit here for a month or two and then you'd have this lull period for several months and then it would pick up again," Jensen says.
There have been 12 break-ins in the area since December, nine since Jan 1. The last one reported was on March 10, which Jensen says indicates the criminals have moved on.
A few weeks ago St. Louis County Police sent an email to Asian-American business owners warning of the break-ins and advising them, among other things, not to keep large sums of cash in their homes, put jewelry in a safe, install hidden cameras in their homes and to ask neighbors neighbors to keep an eye out on their property. County Police are working with the F.B.I. on the case:
St. Louis County Police detectives are urging members of our Asian community to be aware of a burglary crime trend. In the last several months our department has investigated a number of burglaries involving Asian business owners. We believe these victims have been targeted due to an erroneous stereotype that people of Asian descent buy expensive jewelry and do not use banks, instead keeping large amounts of money on hand. The burglaries are occurring when victims are at work during the daytime and evening hours. They are not isolated to one part of the County, so all residents should be aware.
We are distributing the following tips to members of our Asian communities and working closely with the FBI St. Louis office to investigate these crimes. Thank you for your attention in this matter.Common traits of these burglaries
· Victims are of Asian descent and are business owners or employees of Asian owned businesses
· Forced entry made into the residence through the back door or basement door
· Items being stolen are purses, cash, jewelry, and camera equipment
· Burglaries are occurring when victims are at work (daytime and evening hours)Burglary Prevention Safety tips
· Be aware of your surroundings as you travel to and from your place of business
· Tell your neighbors to be on the lookout for any suspicious vehicles in the area
· Make sure exterior surveillance cameras are turned on and functioning
· Set up hidden cameras inside your home
· Lock all doors and windows, make sure the overhead garage door is closed
· Do not keep large amounts of cash inside the home
· Place all valuable jewelry in a safe or hide the jewelry in a place you would not normally keep it. Do not put your jewelry in a jewelry box in the bedroom on top of a dresser
· Remove or trim any overgrown shrubs that are blocking the view of exterior doors to the residence