Thieves Target Indian Americans

HERNDON, Va. (WUSA) -- A band of thieves are targeting Indian-Americans. The crooks know exactly which house to hit because the victims had a religious garland hanging above the door in the window. It is common in Indian culture to hang up these ornaments that represent good fortune and prosperity.

Anjana Varkhedkar says, "The wall was getting pushed in I was wondering what was going on."

Varkhedkar was one of the lucky ones. Nothing was taken from her home but to the thieves surprise Varkhedkar had made a quick stop home.

Varkhedkar says, "I was coming in I started to scream they were still trying to break the frame."

The burglars ran off after realizing someone was inside. But Jaya Sapre and her family were not so lucky. The crooks cleaned out her jewelry box leaving only a few pieces that dropped on the floor.

Says Sapre, "I was panicked nothing was left."

She says the thieves stole 20 thousand dollars worth of gold jewelry. She says Indians like to keep gold in their home that's been passed down from many generations.

Jewelry was the most precious items Sapre owned that was passed down from her mother.

Sapre says, "I wanted to pass it down to my daughter and to have for her remembrance."

But now all she has is the memory she can't erase
Fairfax Police say the crooks usually strike during the day. No one has been caught.

They believe there are multiple suspects that could be linked to more cases. The thieves have hit across Fairfax County and in Loudoun County. Many Indian Americans in the area are keeping their gold in the bank and taking down the garlands.