Burglars Target Asian Business Owners, Chatham Police Warn

CHATHAM, NJ — The Chatham Borough Police Department has issued a warning, alerting the public of a recent crime trend targeting Asian business owners.

According to Police Chief Brian Gibbons, over the past months, residential burglaries have continued to increase at the homes of Asian business owners all around Morris County, as well as throughout the Tri-State area.

Most of the burglaries have taken place during the daytime and early evening hours, police said.

Investigators believe the burglars usually disguise themselves as delivery people and approach the house before the burglary to ensure that no one is home. "Once inside, suspects ransacked the home and took cash, safes, jewelry and designer handbags," police said.

The suspects are believed to be using rental cars, many with out-of-state license plates, in order to avoid detection. Police also believe the burglars watch the houses they target, observing the activity patterns of residents to determine when the home will be unoccupied.

On April 29, two vehicles were stolen from a Chatham Borough driveway after the adjoining residence was entered during the early morning hours, authorities said.

The suspects broke into the house through an unlocked back door and stole the vehicle keys from inside. The suspects stole the two locked vehicles from their driveway with keys in hand. There was no confrontation between the homeowners and the burglars.

Chatham police are reminding residents to remain vigilant and secure their homes and vehicles with security systems.