Rash of burglaries targeting Asian homes spreads to Lone Tree, police say

A trend of burglaries targeting the homes of Asian families across metro Denver has spread to Lone Tree, the police department said Friday.

Over the past several weeks, Lone Tree has seen a “noticeable increase” in residential burglaries that “seem to be part of a growing pattern in the Denver Metro area,” the police department said in a news release.

Many of the burglaries have targeted the homes of Asian residents and the thieves take cash, purses, jewelry and other high-dollar items, police said.

Investigators believe the suspects enter houses by shattering large windows or sliding glass doors on the back of the home, according to the release. The houses also generally border commercial property, open space or a golf course.

After two burglaries in the Heritage Hills neighborhood on Nov. 12 and Dec. 3, Lone Tree officers were able to identify a “vehicle of interest” using security camera and doorbell footage.

The car, a gray GMC Envoy that has significant damage to the driver’s front side, non-matching wheels and a sunroof, was spotted at the scene of both burglaries, police said in the news release. The vehicle was not bearing any license plates during both burglaries.

“If anyone sees this vehicle, we ask that you call 911 immediately,” police said in the release. “We are also asking for area residents with camera systems to check their camera footage for this vehicle.”

So far, no one has been home at the time of the burglaries.

Douglas County sheriff’s deputies noticed a similar pattern in early November, noting burglars have specifically targeted the homes of Asians who own businesses while they’re out of the house.

Deputies said the burglary ring may be part of an organization known as the South American Theft Gang, where people enter the U.S. on short-term visas, create webs of false identities and target high-end retail stores and homes.

The group has cut alarm system cables, jammed wireless internet signals to disable security cameras and made away with roughly $1 million in cash, jewelry and luxury items, Douglas County deputies said.

Aspen police officers connected the gang to another November burglary after four men allegedly used construction equipment to cut through the walls of two Aspen businesses to break into a luxury watch store.

Investigators did not say if the gang is also suspected in the Lone Tree burglaries.

Lone Tree investigators are working with several other metro area law enforcement agencies to compile cases, leads and any progress, police said Friday. Officers are also increasing patrols in Lone Tree’s residential neighborhoods.

Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to contact investigators at 720-509-1225 or the anonymous tip line at 720-509-1160.

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