Henrico's Indian community claims they are targets for crooks - NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News

Victims of recent home break-ins fear they are being watched and targeted for a specific reason - their gold.

This is unfolding in several neighborhoods near Nuckols Road in Henrico.

Victims say, it's like these crooks know exactly where to go in the house.

"They're just going straight to the master bedroom, and looking into the master bedroom closet and just getting out of the closet and getting out fast," said Nitai Mukhopadhyay.

Mukhopadhyay said his house was broken into over the summer - but it was the same story when we caught up with another Indian family, whose home was broken into just days ago.

"They picked whatever was gold and took just the gold and the diamond with the gold, that's all they took," another victim who wanted us to protect her identity.

The victims say this is a crime alert and all Indian families should be aware of it.

"We carry a lot of gold jewelry, basically most all Indians they wear gold jewelry and gold is real expensive these days I guess they are easy targets," said one of the victims.

What the crooks left behind was the fake stuff, like costume jewelry - what they took was tens of thousands of dollars worth of 22 carat gold jewelry and now their sense of security.

"I'm still scared. I'm still scared to be in the house. Now we have all kinds of security alarms and police are helping us," said one of the victims.

Henrico police say this is an ongoing investigation.

"Unless we catch at least one guy, it will continue to happen," said Mukhopadhyay.

"I know at least seven to eight families in recent one year or so that have been broken into and there's a pattern - they just shoot for the gold," said the other victim.

"Since it happened to us, I do not feel secure with my family alone in the house," said Mukhopadhyay.

If you hear or see anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call police. And if you have any information that can help police make an arrest police want to hear from you.

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