Arrests made in North Texas burglaries targeting South Asians

PLANO, Texas — In 2022, the town of Plano noticed a rash of residential burglaries targeting South Asian residents. Detectives shortly realized that the modus operandi of the theives had been an identical almost each time. 

More than a yr later, three individuals have been arrested for partaking in organized felony exercise.

“They were having the doors forced open of these apartments,” mentioned officer Andrae Smith of the Plano Police Department. 

The three suspects are Columbian nationals, based on police. They had been recognized as Jose Gonzalez, Libardo Soto and Melba Gaitan.

It is believed they’re accountable for eight circumstances in Plano and 7 different circumstances in the DFW metroplex in 2022. In their efforts to seek out them, Plano detectives needed to forged a wider internet. 

They expanded their search to different cities and states the place related strategies had been used.

“They wanted to know where these three individuals had been other than Plano,” mentioned Smith.

Plano detectives tracked them throughout 4 states: Texas, Georgia, North Carolina and Florida. And they had been recognized fairly just because their sample was the very same: pressured entry into residences belonging to South Asian residents.

Dinesh Hooda of the Indian Association of North Texas mentioned he is pleased to listen to the news of the arrests on Tuesday afternoon. 

“They were specifically targeting the Indian community because they see we wear lots of jewelry, are wealthy people and keep a lot of cash,” mentioned Hooda.

With the assistance of a number of federal, state and native businesses, Plano police arrested the three suspects. 

“Two teams of detectives traveled to Houston, Texas and Orlando, Florida in order to arrest the suspects responsible for the burglary offenses targeting the Asian/Indian community.  In Florida, Plano Detectives were assisted by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Miami Beach Police Department.  In Houston, Plano Detectives were assisted by the US Marshal Service, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, and Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office,” learn a press launch from the Plano Police Department.

Plano has been working with the Indian group to handle these considerations. This crime ring was busted, however Hooda is aware of there are different threats to the group.

“We definitely need to be secure, be safe, and protecting their property,” Hooda mentioned.

Over the previous a number of years the South Asian group has been the goal of a number of totally different crimes. Community members have had conversations about breaking sure stigmas and alter cultural notion of South Asians. 

Community members have mentioned being extra conscious of our environment whereas addressing the behaviors sought out by thieves.