Burglary ring targeting homes of Asian business owners in Douglas County: Sheriff

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — A sophisticated group of thieves is targeting the homes of Asian business owners living in Douglas County, according to local law enforcement.

Burglars strike while victims are at work, often outside the county, in the Denver metro area.

Law enforcement officials say suspects use sophisticated tactics to track their victims’ activities before the burglary, tracking them at businesses, installing tracking devices on their vehicles or placing hidden cameras in their yards to determine when homes are vacant.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

In one case, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said the victim’s vehicle tires were slashed at the business, preventing them from responding to an active alarm.

Cash, jewelry and luxury bags are primary targets.

“A lot of Asian businesses keep a lot of cash at home. It’s a cultural norm for Asian businesses to keep their cash at home instead of at the bank. That’s actually what saved them from Covid,” said Fran Campbell, an Asian from Colorado. Chamber of Commerce.

Detectives believe this group operates in the United States and that multiple groups may be active across the country. They may also be part of the South American theft group (SATG).

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

The sheriff’s office says losses from these thefts in Douglas County alone total nearly $1 million so far this year.

In a news release Friday, officials offered homeowners some tips:

• Secure Your Valuables: Do not keep large amounts of cash at home. Prevent expensive jewelry and other valuables from being moved along with their contents by locking them in a safe fixed to a shelf, wall, or floor.

• Report Suspicious Activity: Be alert and report suspicious behavior in your neighborhood, especially around business owners’ homes. Suspects also often conduct preliminary surveillance days before the actual theft.

• Check for Tracking Devices: Business owners should regularly inspect their yards and vehicles for hidden tracking devices and cameras.

Burglary ring targeting homes of Asian business owners in Douglas County: Sheriff