Organized burglary crews targeting Asian families have struck at least 10 times in Washington County, according to KOIN 6 reporting, and law enforcement officials yesterday publicly detailed the sophisticated methods the crews use to avoid detection.
The crews disguise themselves as delivery drivers, contractors, or landscapers, wearing reflective safety vests, hard hats, and work clothes while scouting neighborhoods, investigators told KOIN 6.
They plant hidden surveillance cameras to monitor homes before break-ins and deploy commercial-grade Wi-Fi signal jammers to knock out wireless security systems.
Washington County authorities have not detailed individual local cases, but the methods match those documented across the region. The most extensive investigation has come from Eugene, where police have tracked the pattern closely.
Eugene Police Lt. Jeremy Wilson, whose department has investigated 24 similar bias crime cases over two years, said the crews are destructive.
"We've seen entire safes ripped from floors," Wilson said. "Hidden locations that were only uncovered through near-total destruction of the interior of the house."
Similar burglaries have also been reported in Beaverton, Tigard, Salem, and Albany.
The stolen cash and goods from 22 Eugene-area burglaries totaled approximately $1.7 million, according to the Hillsboro News Times.
The crews target cash, jewelry, luxury watches, and designer handbags. They use a variety of vehicles, including vans, SUVs, and sedans, making it harder for neighbors to spot a pattern based on one vehicle type.
Wilson said investigators believe the burglaries are connected to a larger international criminal network that converts stolen valuables to cash and ships them overseas. The most recent case tied to the ring was reported the week of July 14 in Eugene.
Federal sentencing and fugitives
Four Colombian nationals were sentenced to federal prison on Tuesday, July 8, after pleading guilty to a multi-state burglary conspiracy targeting Asian American business owners in Oregon and Washington, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Three additional suspects from the same ring remain at large, and the FBI has asked the public to submit tips.
The cases prompted Oregon lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 1516, which took effect Monday, March 31. The law gives judges broader authority to deny pretrial release for suspects deemed a flight risk or a danger to the community. State Sen. Floyd Prozanski, a Eugene Democrat who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, sponsored the legislation.
What residents can do
The Hillsboro Police Department has not publicly commented on this specific burglary pattern. Investigators cited in the KOIN 6 report urge residents to:
- Report suspicious activity, especially unfamiliar people or vehicles lingering in neighborhoods
- Avoid storing large amounts of cash or valuables at home
- Install hardwired security systems when possible, since wireless cameras can be disabled by signal jammers
- Note details about unfamiliar vehicles and people and call police
Residents can reach Hillsboro Police non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111 or call 911 for emergencies.
