TOWSON, MD—The Baltimore County Police Department is seeing a rise in home burglaries where Asian-American business owners are being targeted.

In what appears to be a national trend, organized criminal groups are surveilling Asian-owned businesses to learn the owner’s daily routine. The burglars will sometimes enter the business owner’s car, while the victim is working, in order to learn where the owner lives. Other times, the burglars will follow a business owner home. While the victim is at work, the burglars return to the victim’s home, break in, and steal cash and valuables.

The Baltimore County Police Department wants business owners to be aware of this trend and offers these preventive measures:

• Install surveillance cameras on or around your home and business
• Motion sensor lighting on the front and back of a home will help deter break-ins
• Consider having a home or business alarm system installed
• Keep your car locked while at work and secure your registration
• Be cognizant of any cars in the neighborhood that aren’t normally there
• Be aware of anyone who might be following you home
• Give thought to how you secure valuables in your house
• Contact your local precinct’s Community Outreach Team to conduct a residential or business security survey.

Anyone who is victimized should immediately report it to police by dialing 9-1-1.

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