South Asian homes in Fairfax targeted by Latino theft ring: over $2M in stolen goods

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting story of over a dozen break-ins in specifically targeted South Asian and Arab NOVA sub-divisions. The target? Home safes and jewelry.

The culprits? Latin American thieves who fly in for specific crime sprees and then go home with the loot.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/01/11/burglaries-crime-tourists-target-asians/


The operation was the culmination of a years-long investigation into a skilled burglary ring, one that authorities say netted about $2 million by focusing on a very specific target: high-end homes of Asian and Middle Eastern families in the D.C. suburbs.
...
Law enforcement experts say cells of professional South American burglars, particularly from Colombia and Chile, are entering the country illegally or exploiting a visa waiver program meant to expedite tourism from dozens of trusted foreign countries.
...
The robberies had begun four months earlier, but after nearly two dozen of them, Fairfax County police were no closer to finding the perpetrators. There would be roughly two dozen more burglaries over the next two years without much more progress. The lead detective, Samuel Song, referred to the perpetrators as “ghosts.”

I wonder if they were hired as staff by these South Asian and Middle Eastern families?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting story of over a dozen break-ins in specifically targeted South Asian and Arab NOVA sub-divisions. The target? Home safes and jewelry.

The culprits? Latin American thieves who fly in for specific crime sprees and then go home with the loot.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/01/11/burglaries-crime-tourists-target-asians/


The operation was the culmination of a years-long investigation into a skilled burglary ring, one that authorities say netted about $2 million by focusing on a very specific target: high-end homes of Asian and Middle Eastern families in the D.C. suburbs.
...
Law enforcement experts say cells of professional South American burglars, particularly from Colombia and Chile, are entering the country illegally or exploiting a visa waiver program meant to expedite tourism from dozens of trusted foreign countries.
...
The robberies had begun four months earlier, but after nearly two dozen of them, Fairfax County police were no closer to finding the perpetrators. There would be roughly two dozen more burglaries over the next two years without much more progress. The lead detective, Samuel Song, referred to the perpetrators as “ghosts.”

I wonder if they were hired as staff by these South Asian and Middle Eastern families?

Not according to the article. These were very sophisticated thieves that staked out jewelry stores then followed the owners back to their homes. They also robbed the jewelry stores by turning off alarm systems then breaking open commercial grade safes. For other homes they used the internet to find Asian names associated with wealthy homes then staked them out and broke in when no one was home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting story of over a dozen break-ins in specifically targeted South Asian and Arab NOVA sub-divisions. The target? Home safes and jewelry.

The culprits? Latin American thieves who fly in for specific crime sprees and then go home with the loot.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/01/11/burglaries-crime-tourists-target-asians/


The operation was the culmination of a years-long investigation into a skilled burglary ring, one that authorities say netted about $2 million by focusing on a very specific target: high-end homes of Asian and Middle Eastern families in the D.C. suburbs.
...
Law enforcement experts say cells of professional South American burglars, particularly from Colombia and Chile, are entering the country illegally or exploiting a visa waiver program meant to expedite tourism from dozens of trusted foreign countries.
...
The robberies had begun four months earlier, but after nearly two dozen of them, Fairfax County police were no closer to finding the perpetrators. There would be roughly two dozen more burglaries over the next two years without much more progress. The lead detective, Samuel Song, referred to the perpetrators as “ghosts.”

I wonder if they were hired as staff by these South Asian and Middle Eastern families?

Not according to the article. These were very sophisticated thieves that staked out jewelry stores then followed the owners back to their homes. They also robbed the jewelry stores by turning off alarm systems then breaking open commercial grade safes. For other homes they used the internet to find Asian names associated with wealthy homes then staked them out and broke in when no one was home.

Interesting! That’s phenomenal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting story of over a dozen break-ins in specifically targeted South Asian and Arab NOVA sub-divisions. The target? Home safes and jewelry.

The culprits? Latin American thieves who fly in for specific crime sprees and then go home with the loot.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/01/11/burglaries-crime-tourists-target-asians/


The operation was the culmination of a years-long investigation into a skilled burglary ring, one that authorities say netted about $2 million by focusing on a very specific target: high-end homes of Asian and Middle Eastern families in the D.C. suburbs.
...
Law enforcement experts say cells of professional South American burglars, particularly from Colombia and Chile, are entering the country illegally or exploiting a visa waiver program meant to expedite tourism from dozens of trusted foreign countries.
...
The robberies had begun four months earlier, but after nearly two dozen of them, Fairfax County police were no closer to finding the perpetrators. There would be roughly two dozen more burglaries over the next two years without much more progress. The lead detective, Samuel Song, referred to the perpetrators as “ghosts.”

I wonder if they were hired as staff by these South Asian and Middle Eastern families?

Not according to the article. These were very sophisticated thieves that staked out jewelry stores then followed the owners back to their homes. They also robbed the jewelry stores by turning off alarm systems then breaking open commercial grade safes. For other homes they used the internet to find Asian names associated with wealthy homes then staked them out and broke in when no one was home.

These guys are definitely smarter than the average bear when it comes to burglars. Sucks for the burgled, though. I hope they get justice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have that much, why wouldn't you have a nice safe?

or a safe deposit box at a bank.

Not Asian but I think they are keeping all this cash at home (in literal physical currency or gold/jewels which can be transformed into currency) because they don't trust banks. That and its easier to fool the IRS if you're not making bank deposits especially with Biden's new $600 deposit rule.

Actually, this is mostly about part B. This is almost all for tax purposes.

Agreed. Definitely about hiding the assets and avoiding taxes.

I’m South Asian, FWIW.

Probably not insured then. It sucks to be robbed, but can't say I care about tax cheats losing money

[Anonymous]

No. Arabs and Asians did not have gold because it was ill-gotten wealth or wealth through tax-evasion. (Way to be racist, you Mother-f'ing White trash ahole republicans!)

These people were targeted because culturally the women are given 22K and 24K gold jewelary when they get married by family, relatives and guests. They also socialize a lot within their ethnic group and jewelry is worn for a lot of social occasions. Which means that they need it at home (in a safe) for easy access.

Gold is easy to melt and dispose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. Arabs and Asians did not have gold because it was ill-gotten wealth or wealth through tax-evasion. (Way to be racist, you Mother-f'ing White trash ahole republicans!)

These people were targeted because culturally the women are given 22K and 24K gold jewelary when they get married by family, relatives and guests. They also socialize a lot within their ethnic group and jewelry is worn for a lot of social occasions. Which means that they need it at home (in a safe) for easy access.

Gold is easy to melt and dispose.

This.

It's not secret many Asians have lots of gold. They give it as gifts during weddings. You need to wear a lot of gold during your wedding. It's not about dodging taxes. It's cultural.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Arabs and Asians did not have gold because it was ill-gotten wealth or wealth through tax-evasion. (Way to be racist, you Mother-f'ing White trash ahole republicans!)

These people were targeted because culturally the women are given 22K and 24K gold jewelary when they get married by family, relatives and guests. They also socialize a lot within their ethnic group and jewelry is worn for a lot of social occasions. Which means that they need it at home (in a safe) for easy access.

Gold is easy to melt and dispose.

This.

It's not secret many Asians have lots of gold. They give it as gifts during weddings. You need to wear a lot of gold during your wedding. It's not about dodging taxes. It's cultural.

I figured that immediately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have that much, why wouldn't you have a nice safe?

Right! Have a safe!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have that much, why wouldn't you have a nice safe?

Right! Have a safe!

These guys brought a portable generator and industrial power tools to cut into safes. What do you expect these victims to do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. Arabs and Asians did not have gold because it was ill-gotten wealth or wealth through tax-evasion. (Way to be racist, you Mother-f'ing White trash ahole republicans!)

These people were targeted because culturally the women are given 22K and 24K gold jewelary when they get married by family, relatives and guests. They also socialize a lot within their ethnic group and jewelry is worn for a lot of social occasions. Which means that they need it at home (in a safe) for easy access.

Gold is easy to melt and dispose.

I’m Asian and you’re full of sh&t if you’re saying that Asians don’t work hard to evade taxes. Are you kidding me? They hire from overseas at slave wages, and pay their ‘employees’ crap wages for cash only. The nannies and the cooks work hard, for long hours, and it’s all cash.

You’re right that we have a lot of 22K and 24K jewelry and it is often kept at home to wear to social functions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have that much, why wouldn't you have a nice safe?

or a safe deposit box at a bank.

I didn't read the article but at least for jewelry, some of this is jewelry that is worn, not jewelry held for value. It would be a pain to have to go to the bank to pick up the jewelry you are going to wear out that night and take it back the next day. People think their home safes are secure, it appears they are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. Arabs and Asians did not have gold because it was ill-gotten wealth or wealth through tax-evasion. (Way to be racist, you Mother-f'ing White trash ahole republicans!)

These people were targeted because culturally the women are given 22K and 24K gold jewelary when they get married by family, relatives and guests. They also socialize a lot within their ethnic group and jewelry is worn for a lot of social occasions. Which means that they need it at home (in a safe) for easy access.

Gold is easy to melt and dispose.

Not $60,000 worth of gold with little rubies. Please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have that much, why wouldn't you have a nice safe?

Right! Have a safe!

READ THE ARTICLE BEFORE COMMENTING

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have that much, why wouldn't you have a nice safe?

or a safe deposit box at a bank.

Not Asian but I think they are keeping all this cash at home (in literal physical currency or gold/jewels which can be transformed into currency) because they don't trust banks. That and its easier to fool the IRS if you're not making bank deposits especially with Biden's new $600 deposit rule.

South Asian here and no. There certainly may be a trust issue, but there's no tax evasion going on here. South Asian and Middle Eastern people have a lot of gold jewelry. Do you know nothing?