Police: Over a million dollars stolen from Asian American families in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHP) — Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) are investigating a series of burglaries that have specifically been targeting homes of Asian Americans who own Chinese food restaurants.
They says that as of right now, almost a million dollars in cash and property have been stolen from restaurant owners throughout the state.
According to the PSP commissioner, Col. Robert Evanchick, these burglaries initially happened in the northern part of Pennsylvania, but are now especially getting out of hand.
“While many of these crimes occurred in the northeastern part of the state, similar burglaries have been reported across the commonwealth. We want business owners to be aware of this trend and take preventive measures," said Evanchick.
Officials say that the string of thefts seems to be the work three or four people.
Police believe that one person is a lookout while one or two other individuals enter the residences, stealing any cash or jewelry that they can find.
Another person waits in a getaway car, according to authorities.
Police say that the team watches the house they target, sometimes disguised by wearing yellow safety vests or posing as landscapers.
The group usually remains in the home for under 30 minutes.
Officials say that the burglars usually found out about the restaurant owners' addresses by breaking into their cars and checking their registration cards, installing makeshift tracking devices, or even following them home from work.
