Ethnicity-Targeted Burglaries Result In 2 Arrests: Reports

WOBURN, MA — After a string of burglaries targeting ethnic groups in Woburn and nearby communities, police have arrested two men from New York in connection with the crimes.

David Rondon-Castro, 26, and Yeison Ramirez-Garcia, 25, both of Queens, New York, are charged with a conspiracy to commit at least five home break-ins last summer, according to multiple reports.

The men were scheduled for arraignment Wednesday in Woburn District Court.

Prosecutors say the pair targeted Indian and east Asian households using sophisticated surveillance tactics. The operation was part of a larger scheme that spanned multiple states, the reports said.

It “stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and jewelry, targeting victims based on ethnicity and perceived cultural practices around storing valuables,” the Boston Globe reported.

The break-ins utilized GPS trackers on the cars of victims, hidden cameras near their homes, and Wi-Fi jammers that disabled security systems.

Besides Woburn, three other Middlesex County communities were targeted – Burlington, North Reading and Wilmington.

To read the Globe story, click here.