In the recent days, there has been a spate of home burglaries in the Fresh Meadows neighborhood of Queens. The latest incident involved a Chinese family who fell victim to two thieves disguised as Amazon deliverymen. The burglars broke into the house and ransacked it, stealing valuable items including cash, jewelry, designer clothing and bags, as well as important documents like social security cards and bank cards. The victims suspect that their home had been under surveillance by the thieves.
The house, located near 73rd Avenue and 168th Street, was broken into on a Saturday afternoon. The son of the family left around 2 p.m. and upon returning home a few hours later, discovered the intrusion. Surveillance footage captured two masked thieves dressed as Amazon workers breaking in through a window and making off with around $15,000 in cash and valuables.
The burglars left the house in disarray, leaving behind shoe prints on the bed. The victim lamented that all the valuable items were taken, even the good clothes, while only the unbranded ones were left behind.
When the victims reported the incident to the police, they were informed that this group specifically targeted Chinese residences, with over 180 similar break-ins reported recently. The victims suspect that their home had been under surveillance for some time prior to the burglary.
The Fresh Meadows community has witnessed a string of residential burglaries in recent times, with a majority of victims being of Asian descent.
For instance, a Chinese victim shared that her home was burglarized on December 26, 2024. The thieves took advantage of her absence to swiftly break in through doors and windows, resulting in significant losses of property.
Police investigations have revealed that these crimes are being carried out by a Colombian criminal gang comprising 6 to 12 members. They often disguise themselves as landscapers, wearing work uniforms along with hats, gloves, masks, and sunglasses, and carry backpacks to conceal their identities. Witnesses have reported that some members of the gang may even disguise themselves as women, wearing dresses. Their modus operandi is extremely secretive, with the gang typically parking their vehicles a block or two away from the target property, using out-of-state or fake license plates to avoid detection. They typically enter through rear doors, side windows, or basement windows, completing the burglary in 7 to 10 minutes while bypassing surveillance cameras and alarm systems. They also employ technology to jam Wi-Fi signals, rendering some alarm systems ineffective.
Recently, Captain Kevin Coleman of the 109th Precinct advised residents at a public event to leave lights on when no one is at home, as burglars usually target unoccupied households. The presence of lights may deter criminals by giving the impression that someone is inside the house. He recommended installing surveillance cameras, doorbell cameras, and motion-activated lights to help prevent home burglaries.