Asian Americans Who Own Philly Businesses Targeted In Region: Police

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —Bensalem Police have charged a Philadelphia man they say is among a group of criminals targeting Asian Americans who have businesses in Philadelphia.

Frederick Gray, 45, from Henry Avenue in Philadelphia, was charged with burglary, criminal trespass, and criminal mischief. He was arraigned by District Justice Joseph Falcone and remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10% of $250,000 bail.

At 7:40 a.m. Wednesday, Bensalem police officers observed the white Sprinter van in the Street Road and Old Lincoln Highway area, conducted a traffic stop, and took Gray into custody on the arrest warrant.

Gray has a GPS tracker in his possession. that can be covertly placed on the underside of a vehicle.

During the investigation, Bensalem Police found evidence of a group of criminals targeting Asian Americans who have businesses in Philadelphia.

There is also evidence that GPS trackers are being placed on the vehicles of these business owners to identify and target their homes.

Similar crimes have been reported in surrounding counties, police said.

Bensalem Police are closely coordinating with police departments throughout the region to identify the other persons involved in the burglary on Village Greene Boulevard and similar crimes in the area.

On Saturday, September 30, 2023, a resident of Village Greene Boulevard in Bensalem arrived home and found her front door unlocked and the basement door broken and open. The house was also ransacked, so police were contacted.

Video surveillance from the residence showed that a white Sprinter van parked in the driveway, and then suspects were seen forcing open the basement door and entering the home.

One suspect had a black handgun in his hand as he went through the residence, turning cameras to obscure the view of the subjects as they burglarized the home.

After the burglary, the Sprinter van leaves the property, and the registration plate is captured by a stationary license plate reader a short time later.

The vehicle's registered owner was found to be Gray.

A few days later, Bensalem officers stopped the Sprinter van and identified the driver as Gray.

They also obtained his cell phone number, which they used to get a search warrant for his cell phone records.

An examination of those records put Gray in the general area around the time of the burglary, but police still did not have probable cause to charge Gray.

Over the next five months, detectives conducted a systematic investigation using technology, search warrants, and other investigative techniques to build a case.

On Monday, detectives obtained a search warrant to seize Gray's cell phone and collect DNA. Officers observed Gray's white Sprinter van and conducted a traffic stop. They seized Gray’s cell phone, collected his DNA, and sent him on his way.

A forensic examination of the cell phone revealed text messages where Gray orchestrated the location and timing of the burglary on Village Greene Boulevard at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30.

He also provided videos of the home to a co-conspirator so that they went to the correct location.

Detectives used the information to obtain an arrest warrant for Gray.

Anyone with any information about the targeted crimes should contact their local police department, Bensalem Police urge.