Plano police break up burglary ring targeting Asian-Americans

Plano Burglary Ring
(L-R) Adriana Abello-Ruiz, Jeisson Javier Tafur-Tovar, Juan Diego Pinto-Rodriguez, Luis Carlos Tafur Tovar, Helmer Patino-Calderon Photo credit Collin County Jail

Five people are locked up in the Collin County jail where they are accused in a string of burglaries that police believe were targeting Asian Americans.

Plano police say they've been tracking these burglaries for weeks and noticed the pattern that the victims were all Asian-American residents in Plano and Frisco.

Investigators learned the burglars used pretty much the same method each time. First, they would knock on a front door in the middle of the day. If there was no answer, they'd pry the door open and carry off what they wanted.

But it all fell apart Sunday when they tried the same tactic. After getting no response to their knocking, they forced their way into the home where it turned out the occupants were taking a nap.

Hearing the noise, the homeowners called the police who got there in time to make the five arrests. All were charged with engaging in criminal activity.

The suspects five have been identified as a woman named Adriana Abello-Ruiz and four men, Juan Pinto-Rodriguez, Helmer Patino-Calderon, Luis Tafur-Tovar, and Jeisson Tafur-Tovar.

Police say the suspects are all Hispanic and the victims are all Asian, but investigators are not saying if the victims were targeted for racial reasons.

In addition to the organized crime charges, the five are also being held on immigration detainers from the Department of Homeland Security.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: Collin County Jail