At least a half-dozen Glasgow-area residents who recently had their homes broken into were targeted because of their ethnicity, county police said Wednesday.
The men charged with the burglaries, who were arrested earlier this month, stole tens of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry, designer bags, clothing and money from at least six homes, said New Castle County Police spokesman Master Cpl. Michel Eckerd.
Detectives said they believe there are likely additional victims who have not yet come forward.
According to Eckerd, the suspects – two men ages 43 and 29 – selected their victims based on their Asiatic heritage. The victims were Chinese, Pakistani, Vietnamese and Indian.
Eckerd said police have found that some “members of this community are new to the U.S. and don’t always report the incidents because of language or cultural barriers.”
The men charged with the crimes knew this, Eckerd said, and took advantage.
“It’s not hate for their status or anything like that,” he said. “What it is, is that these individuals are more apt not to report it and more apt not to come forward.”
While some victims have claimed their missing property, police recovered numerous other items when they searched one of the suspect’s homes that have not yet been returned to their owners. Police hope anyone who recognizes the items will come forward.
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Detectives also urge anyone who was a victim and has not come forward – or anyone who believes their home may have been broken into – to reach out to police. New Castle County police have 24-hour phone lines where non-English-speaking victims can be connected to a translator.
Eckerd said the homes were broken into during the day when the victims were at work. Usually, he said, “ransacking was involved.”
In the wake of the arrests, Eckerd said police are looking at whether the suspects are linked to other burglaries as far south as Georgia and as far west as Washington state. He also said there are other crews that are similarly targeting victims based on their ethnicities.
He would not say how the suspects knew their victims were a particular ethnicity, citing the ongoing investigation – but he added that police are aware of how they chose their targets.
Anyone who thinks they may have been a victim or recognizes their items can contact New Castle County Police at 302-573-2800.
Got a story tip or idea? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com. For all things breaking news, follow her on Twitter at @izzihughes_
