Plano police are warning about a series of home burglaries since February that seem to target the homes of Asian, Indian and Middle Eastern residents.
Police said the burglars go to the front door, ring the doorbell --- if nobody answers, they look for an unlocked gate to get to the back of the house where they bust in through the patio or back door.
In every case police say gold jewelry and small electronics were stolen and in all the cases the victims are Asian, Middle-Eastern or Indian.
"The burglars know this demographic group has gold bought in their home countries that is a higher quality of gold than what's sold in the United States and they seem to keep it at home," Plano police spokesman Officer David Tilley said.
Plano has seen 21 burglaries so far in 2013, but police say the trend goes back to 2010. Plano police logged nine similar burglaries in 2010, 15 in 2011 and 17 in 2012.
"It's becoming a serious problem," said Tilley.
Investigators believe the break-ins are not just in Plano but are widespread.
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"We have been in touch with our agencies and agencies outside of the Metroplex who are having the same problem," Tilley said.
Plano has joined Allen, Carrollton, Frisco, Irving and McKinney in sharing information amongst each other as well as with the FBI. "It's a criminal organized ring," said Tilley.
Police recommend people keep their doors locked. If someone knocks, don't ignore it, just acknowledge someone is inside the home.
"If you're suspicious, call 911. You're not wasting our time," said Tilley. "It's our job to protect the public and property. We love to catch the bad guys."
Police recommend people lock their back gates, secure their valuables and photograph their jewelry.
The Plano Police Department is using social media to alert home owners, offering home inspections so residents know what makes them vulnerable.
