Out-of-state crime rings are targeting Asian business owners in New Hampshire, breaking into their homes and stealing jewelry and large amounts of cash.Police said the criminals are using disguises and technology such as Wi-Fi jammers to disable security cameras and GPS trackers to know when business owners aren’t home.”When we began investigating it, we started sharing information with other local agencies, and we realized just how big of a ring this was,” said Londonderry police Det. Sgt. Chris Olsen.Home security footage obtained by News 9 Investigates shows the start of a well-organized home burglary that occurred in May in Londonderry. The homeowner, an Asian business owner, lost more than $60,000 in cash and jewelry.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<“A young woman went up to the door holding a DoorDash bag, waiting there for several minutes to see if anyone was home,” Olsen said. “The home was vacant at the time. She gets back into her vehicle, and another vehicle shows up at least one minute later. Four subjects get out of the vehicle wearing hi-vis vests — a traffic-type vest – as well as a landscape or gardening-type hat, and they make entry into the residence.”Police said the burglary was one of several in New Hampshire organized by out-of-state crime rings that identify and track people, typically of Asian descent, who own businesses such as restaurants and nail salons. Members of a New York-based crime ring were arrested in connection with break-ins in Rhode Island, Delaware, Florida, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Gorham, New Hampshire.”This is a small community,” said Gorham police Chief Jimmy Willhoite. “This kind of crime normally doesn’t occur here. And for them to target one of our business owners, yes, it was very surprising.”According to Gorham police, the homeowner was tracked for several days before the criminals made off with electronics, jewelry and $100,000 in cash.Police said the crime rings are very sophisticated with their use of technology. They might launch a drone from a neighborhood in order to monitor police activities while they commit the robberies.In Conway, three homes were burglarized in one month. In all cases in New Hampshire, the homes were ransacked.”When you walk into the house, it’s just been ransacked,” Willhoite said. “Mattresses were off every bed. The dresser drawers – every one has been pulled out and dumped out. The closets – all the closet doors were open, and every piece of clothing was no longer hanging. Anything on the top shelves and closet was pulled down. Every little box had been opened up.”Members of the New Hampshire Asian American Coalition said culture and language barriers are often obstacles Asian business owners face that can prevent them from using banks or even filing police reports. Many Asians who grew up overseas have developed a deep distrust of government.”They never trusted their government, and they thought when they keep that money in the bank, the government can take that money,” said Rudra Aryal, of the New Hampshire Asian American Coalition. “The mindset, that concept is coming with them here.””It’s traumatic,” Olsen said. “I cannot imagine what they went through when they walked into their home here in Londonderry and found that it had been ransacked, and they lost so many valuables.”Police reminded business owners to be aware, report anything suspicious, and not keep cash in their homes.
Out-of-state crime rings are targeting Asian business owners in New Hampshire, breaking into their homes and stealing jewelry and large amounts of cash.
Police said the criminals are using disguises and technology such as Wi-Fi jammers to disable security cameras and GPS trackers to know when business owners aren’t home.
“When we began investigating it, we started sharing information with other local agencies, and we realized just how big of a ring this was,” said Londonderry police Det. Sgt. Chris Olsen.
Home security footage obtained by News 9 Investigates shows the start of a well-organized home burglary that occurred in May in Londonderry. The homeowner, an Asian business owner, lost more than $60,000 in cash and jewelry.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
“A young woman went up to the door holding a DoorDash bag, waiting there for several minutes to see if anyone was home,” Olsen said. “The home was vacant at the time. She gets back into her vehicle, and another vehicle shows up at least one minute later. Four subjects get out of the vehicle wearing hi-vis vests — a traffic-type vest – as well as a landscape or gardening-type hat, and they make entry into the residence.”
Police said the burglary was one of several in New Hampshire organized by out-of-state crime rings that identify and track people, typically of Asian descent, who own businesses such as restaurants and nail salons. Members of a New York-based crime ring were arrested in connection with break-ins in Rhode Island, Delaware, Florida, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Gorham, New Hampshire.
“This is a small community,” said Gorham police Chief Jimmy Willhoite. “This kind of crime normally doesn’t occur here. And for them to target one of our business owners, yes, it was very surprising.”
According to Gorham police, the homeowner was tracked for several days before the criminals made off with electronics, jewelry and $100,000 in cash.
Police said the crime rings are very sophisticated with their use of technology. They might launch a drone from a neighborhood in order to monitor police activities while they commit the robberies.
In Conway, three homes were burglarized in one month. In all cases in New Hampshire, the homes were ransacked.
“When you walk into the house, it’s just been ransacked,” Willhoite said. “Mattresses were off every bed. The dresser drawers – every one has been pulled out and dumped out. The closets – all the closet doors were open, and every piece of clothing was no longer hanging. Anything on the top shelves and closet was pulled down. Every little box had been opened up.”
Members of the New Hampshire Asian American Coalition said culture and language barriers are often obstacles Asian business owners face that can prevent them from using banks or even filing police reports. Many Asians who grew up overseas have developed a deep distrust of government.
“They never trusted their government, and they thought when they keep that money in the bank, the government can take that money,” said Rudra Aryal, of the New Hampshire Asian American Coalition. “The mindset, that concept is coming with them here.”
“It’s traumatic,” Olsen said. “I cannot imagine what they went through when they walked into their home here in Londonderry and found that it had been ransacked, and they lost so many valuables.”
Police reminded business owners to be aware, report anything suspicious, and not keep cash in their homes.
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