After a two-month-long investigation, Kirkland police caught five alleged burglars on Sunday who targeted Indian American and South Asian communities.
The five men are accused of orchestrating 17 burglaries in Kirkland and the surrounding areas, according to a news release from the Kirkland Police Department (KPD) on Thursday.
Kirkland police start investigation after concerns from community
The investigation was sparked in February when members of the Eastside Indian American and South Asian communities brought their concerns to law enforcement. Residents said there had been an uptick in racially-motivated burglaries impacting them. Data from Kirkland crime analysts confirmed a possible uptick in targeted burglaries.
Later that month, surveillance cameras and eyewitnesses captured photos of the men and the license plate of a rental car they were using.
KPD said one of the men was from Palmdale, California, and had a lengthy criminal history as a convicted felon. Investigators found out the man traveled frequently between California and Washinton, using short-term rental properties to move around.
More local crime: Family says teen can ‘rest in peace’ after Bothell man convicted of 1993 murder
The group also rented cars and allegedly swapped out license plates with stolen ones. The evidence led police to a short-term rental in Redmond.
On Sunday, a team searched the home and arrested the five adult men, who were all from Southern California. Police charged them with burglaries in Kirkland, King County and Snohomish County.
Equipment, believed to be used for countersurveillance and tricking home security features, was found in the rental. Police also recovered stolen items, over $17,000 in cash and several designer bags.
“This is an impactful and successful outcome for our community,” said Kirkland Police Chief Cherie Harris. “Thank you to our community members for trusting law enforcement with your story and for all our…
Read the full article here
