Thieves targeting gold in Cary robberies of Indian families


The first break-in happened in Morrisville on Oct. 18.

A second and third break-in were reported in the Weldon Ridge and Harmony communities in Cary just days later.

Now, police in Cary believe they have another case connected to this crime spree bringing the total in Cary alone to three. They also say they are working with Raleigh, Apex, and Morrisville on similar crimes.

In all of the Cary cases it appears the thieves were trying to target Indian families.

One of the families hit was not Indian. However, they just recently moved into the house and bought it from an Indian family.

ABC11 spoke with one of the victims, who is Indian, and were told that the Indian community believes they are being targeted because gold, especially for Hindus, is closely connected to their culture.

This weekend is the Diwali Festival which celebrates, among other things, the Goddess of Wealth and includes gold jewelry.

Police in Morrisville say in the break-in there thieves stole an entire safe filled with gold jewelry.

However, it's not just culture linking the crimes according to police.    

"That's one thing that, that leads us to believe that it is a series, the same people committing the crimes," said Cary Police Capt. Don Hamilton. "The M.O. -- how they are going in, the time of day they're doing it and the victims they're picking."

Police also say the thieves are brazen -- hitting in broad daylight and fast. In one case, they set off an alarm but by the time police arrived they had gotten away with the goods.

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