The recently busted ring targeted Asian business owners. Authorities broke down how it operated.
ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA — They would watch their prey, following their victims from their businesses to their homes while waiting for the chance to pounce and find a stash of cash for a big payday.
It was a national crime trend where thieves targeted Asian business owners, and this South American theft ring of six men operated right here in Montgomery and Bucks counties and the Philadelphia region before being recently busted by Abington Police.
More than 100 Asian-owned businesses, such as Chinese and Japanese restaurants, nail salons, and food markets, were researched by the crime organization.
In a criminal affidavit obtained by Patch, authorities broke down how the ring operated and the sophistication thieves used to snare their victims.
Crime Trend Sweeps Nation
Area authorities were aware of a nationwide crime trend where criminal organizations specifically targeted Asian-American business owners for thefts, burglaries, and robberies.
The criminals conducted research and surveillance on an Asian-owned business in an effort to find where the victims live. They used open source databases or physical surveillance on potential victims, authorities said.
That included technology such as signal jammers, GPS trackers, and mobile cameras to monitor the victim’s activity. After learning where the business owner lives, the criminals would then target that home for burglary and/or robbery. These victims were targeted because of the belief that Asian-American business owners keep large amounts of cash inside their homes, the complaint states.
These burglaries are believed to be related and are being committed by an organized burglary crew operating out of the Queens section of New York City, the complaint states.
The suspects involved in this criminal organization were all Colombian nationals. In addition to our training and experience, this conclusion is based on matching schemes, design, and physical evidence.
In addition to Montgomery County, the ring operated in other areas of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Ohio.
How Thieves Committed The Crimes
Authorities started investigating residential burglaries that matched this nationwide trend, which were occurring in and around Montgomery County, the criminal complaint states.
Local authorities worked with detectives from each of those states, and shared intelligence and evidence related to these specific crimes.
The burglaries occurred in the afternoon and early evening hours. Entry was made in the rear of the home.
Cash, jewelry and designer handbags were targeted by the burglars. They would frequently switch vehicles and license plates, utilizing plates from multiple states. They would research and conduct surveillance of their targets for days in advance.
When committing the burglary, they work in teams of up to five suspects, utilizing up to three to four vehicles. They utilize various disguises and ruses, including posing as joggers, landscapers, Amazon deliveries, and food deliveries, authorities said.
The suspects would often travel to an area of the country and take up temporary residence at a hotel or Airbnb, where they would conduct their criminal operations they moved on to a different area.
Although not a formal or legally recognized organization, the six men are an “association in fact,” authorities said.
“This is established by their continual cooperation in a sophisticated burglary scheme. Each member played a role in the organization, either by conducting research and planning, scheduling and providing manpower, vehicles, and various instruments of crime, acting as a lookout, conducting surveillance, breaking into homes, or selling the stolen proceeds,” authorities said in the criminal affidavit.
Authorities said that each member of the organization committed at least two acts of racketeering in the form of burglary, dealing in proceeds of illegal activity, and theft-related offenses.
“These crimes were not random, but rather part of a pattern used by a sophisticated and ongoing burglary ring that utilized similar techniques, strategies, technologies, and personnel for dozens of crimes across several jurisdictions,” authorities said. “All six suspects are engaged in this pattern of racketeering and the illegal commerce that resulted.”
The business owners were searched through public databases such as TruePeopleSearch and US PhoneBook. The organization used a mobile application called Landglide, which maps residential neighborhoods and matches the plots with public tax and landowner records.
The user of the application can simply move their finger over a neighborhood map on their phone and see the names of all the property owners. This criminal organization focuses on Asian sounding names to further research as potential targets.
This criminal organization ‘fenced’ stolen goods on numerous occasions. During the course of their year-long crime spree, they utilized at least10 different vehicles, most of which were luxury BMWs and Mercedes Benz vehicles. They traveled great distances to commit their crimes: from New York to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, and Kentucky, staying at AirBnBs along the way.
When Crimes Started In Philadelphia Region
Beginning in January 2024, a series of burglaries occurred at homes throughout Montgomery County and the surrounding region.
Here are descriptions of some of the burglaries:
Burglary (Carol Road, Abington Township)
On July 31, 2024, Abington Police responded to a burglary in the 1300 block of Carol Road, which is located in the township’s Meadowbrook section.
The burglary occurred while the victims were at work. Entry was made by forcing open a window in the rear of the home. The home was ransacked, and a Rolex watch valued at $10,000 was stolen. The residents are of Asian descent and own a business in Philadelphia.
Burglary (Lenape Ct., Towamencin Township)
On July 31, 2024, a burglary occurred on the 100th block of Lenape Court. A juvenile was home and heard a loud bang when suspects broke a basement sliding glass door. The suspects fled upon seeing the juvenile. The homeowners are of Asian descent. Surveillance video from the neighborhood showed that the suspects arrived in two vehicles, a silver Honda Odyssey and a silver Mercedes-Benz SUV.
Burglary (Sweet Gum Lane, Horsham Township)
On July 31, 2024, Horsham Police responded to a burglary on Sweet Gum Lane. Entry was made by breaking a window in the rear of the home. The home was ransacked, and $8,000 cash, along with numerous pieces of jewelry, was stolen. Surveillance video shows the suspects inside the home. A neighbor’s surveillance camera shows an additional suspect in front of the victim’s home, acting as a lookout, and talking to someone on FaceTime in a foreign language. The residents are of Asian descent and own a business in Cheltenham Township.
Attempted Burglary (Greene Court, Warminster Township)
On July 31, 2024, an attempted burglary occurred on the 600 block of Green Court. A neighbor observed a screen from a first-floor rear window had been removed. Officers discovered that someone had attempted to pry open the window. It does not appear that an entry was gained. The residents are of Asian descent and own Lans Nails in Lansdale, Montgomery County.
Burglary (Carol Road, Abington Township)
On Oct. 8, 2024, the Abington Police Department responded to a completed burglary of a single-family home on Carol Road in the township’s Meadowbrook section. The residents left their home in the early morning and returned in the evening, and found the power off inside their home. Every room had been heavily ransacked. The home was burglarized similarly on July 31, 2024.
Burglary (Gunpowder Road, Abington Township)
On Oct. 31, 2024, Abington Police responded to Gunpowder Road in the Rydal section for a completed burglary. The victim reported that the house was unoccupied for about eight hours. When the victim arrived home from work, the home had been ransacked. The victim reported that about $15,450 worth of jewelry and $16,300 worth of handbags had been stolen. A safe containing personal documents was also stolen from the house. Police located an open window on the front of the house that was concealed by bushes. The victims are of Asian descent and own a business in Bucks County.