The wave of burglaries in Asian homes is spreading to Lone Tree

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

In recent weeks, Lone Tree has seen a “noticeable increase” in home burglaries that “appear to be part of a growing pattern in the Denver Metro area“, the police said in a press release.

Many of the burglaries targeted the homes of Asian residents and the thieves took cash, wallets, jewelry and other expensive items, police said.

Investigators believe the suspects enter homes by shattering large windows or sliding glass doors at the back of the home, the release said. The homes are also usually adjacent to a business premises, 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 cameras and doorbell footage.

The car, a gray GMC Envoy with significant damage to the driver’s front end, mismatched wheels and a sunroof, was seen at the scene of both burglaries, police said in the news release. In both burglaries, the car was not equipped with license plates.

“If anyone sees this vehicle, we ask that you call 911 immediately,” police said in the news release. “We also ask local residents with camera systems to view their camera images of this vehicle.”

No one was home at the time of the burglaries.

Douglas County sheriff’s deputies noticed a similar pattern in early November, noting that burglars had specifically targeted the homes of Asians running businesses while they were 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 a web of false identities and target luxury stores and homes.