Thieves are targeting AAPI families. What residents can do to help stop them

Burglaries that target people of Indian and South Asian descent are not just happening locally — they're happening in several states, according to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office.

In a prepared statement, the DA's Office said burglaries targeting specific groups are also occurring in Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.

Locally, police in Sudbury, Hopkinton, Hudson and Weston have reported multiple burglaries in the past few months, most recently this past weekend in Hudson.

Weston Police Chief Denis Linehan, in a video statement, said his department is working with other area departments, as well as state and local authorities, to investigate the break-ins.

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"This is happening here in town and in the surrounding area," he said. "This situation we're talking about is not something we here in Massachusetts are dealing with alone. It's a nationwide issue."

How police believe the thieves are entering homes

Typically, authorities said, burglars are entering homes on the second floor. Sudbury police, in a press release, said the incidents in their town appear to be similar to those in nearby communities.

"Currently, there is no connection between the residents, other than they are both of Indian descent," Sudbury police said in a statement. "Residential break-ins are infrequent for Sudbury, but regionally there is an increase exhibiting similar patterns. Specifically, evidence suggests that entry was gained through a 2nd floor window at both homes. This is consistent with an ongoing residential break-in investigation, where often the victims are of South Asian and/or Indian descent."

What, who the burglars are targeting

The thieves appear to be targeting jewelry and cash, authorities said.

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So far this year, in Middlesex County, there appear to have been at least 16 break-ins targeting those of South Asian descent, the District Attorney's Office said.

How to prevent your cash and jewelry from being stolen

Authorities advise that valuables be kept in a safe deposit box at a bank, but if there's a preference to keep valuables at home, secure them in a heavy box or safe that is bolted to the floor.

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Authorities also said that if you're planning to travel, be sure not to post the location on social media in real time and to have social media set to private; schedule for a house sitter or have friends, family or neighbors check and watch homes; contact local police before leaving to set up home checks.

The DA's Office also recommends having a home alarm system and to arrange for all windows to have sensors. Authorities also recommend that the system not rely on Wi-Fi and that it automatically backs up to a hard drive or the cloud.

"This is an active and ongoing investigation, and we are pursuing every lead," according to the DA's Office. "If you are a victim, contact your local police."

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Burglars targeting Indians, South Asians, police claim. What to know