Asian American group again pushes on police after new burglary report

QuickTake:

The latest report of a break-in on Tuesday fits a pattern of burglaries of Asian American households over the past couple of years, Eugene police said. The newest report comes ahead of a forum Thursday to be hosted by the Asian American Council of Oregon to discuss the apparent ring and law enforcement response to it.

The Asian American Council of Oregon is calling for a “stronger prioritization” by law enforcement in fighting a pattern of crimes targeting Asian American households after another burglary report Tuesday, Oct. 21.

A home burglary reported in southwest Eugene fits the same pattern as more than 22 burglaries dating back to late 2023, police said Tuesday.

Eugene Police Chief Chris Skinner has previously described a “very sophisticated” nationwide effort taking aim at mostly business owners believed to keep valuables in their homes. Most cases have involved households of Asian descent, Eugene police have said.

“This ongoing pattern makes it painfully clear: Our community safety systems are not working for AAPI residents,” Jenny Jonak, a council board member, said in a statement, referring to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. “We urgently need stronger prioritization of these crimes.”

The Asian American Council of Oregon plans to host a public forum Thursday with police leaders from Eugene and Springfield to discuss safety concerns. The forum was announced before the most recent case and also before Eugene police on Oct. 10 announced the arrest of seven men later charged with first-degree burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary.

Police have said common characteristics in the burglaries include: suspects surveilling potential victims so they can enter homes when residents are at work; and suspects posing as gardeners or delivery personnel, and entering through rear entrances before making off with safes, cash, jewelry and other valuables.

Six of those charged have been released from Lane County Jail after providing 10% of the $100,000 security bond required for each release. Their next appearance in Lane County Circuit Court is scheduled for Nov. 17.

Similar arrests in Oregon have involved Colombian nationals. Lane County District Attorney Christopher Parosa on Wednesday said he’d heard rumors that one of the seven men arrested this month by Eugene police had been taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Parosa, however, said he had not received any information confirming rumors that any of the men were in ICE custody. He said ICE does not inform his office of immigration enforcement activity.

“Once placed in federal custody, the federal government has priority over the individuals. We have the ability to attempt to writ the person over to state court for the purpose of prosecution, but the federal courts must grant that request,” Parosa said in an email. “I will be reaching out to our counterparts in the US Attorney’s Office to discuss the issue and express my strong desire to hold these individuals accountable for their criminal conduct at the local level.”

Parosa this month spoke about meeting with law enforcement officials about the targeted crimes. The prosecutions of other suspects in similar cases have been complicated by defendants fleeing the state. Gov. Tina Kotek ultimately agreed to support a request from Parosa for extradition after initially denying his request.

The AAPI & Allies Public Safety Forum begins at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Korean Presbyterian Church of Eugene, 1600 Taney St.

Updated court documents show some name and age changes for the burglary suspects compared to information released by Eugene police upon their arrest. The six suspects released from Lane County Jail are: