Police: Burglar targeting Asian restaurants in Fayetteville
FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina (WTVD) -- UPDATE: Authorities in Fayetteville are investigating another incident overnight after the front window of a Korean restaurant at 404 Santa Fe Drive was smashed. Officials say the incident is similar to the other Asian restaurant robberies, but it is unclear if it is the same suspect.
ORIGINAL STORY: Fayetteville police need help to identify a suspect who has broken into several Asian restaurants along Ramsey Street and Bragg Boulevard.
The most recent burglary happened in late January at the Little China restaurant at 3837 Ramsey Street. The suspect reportedly shattered the glass in front of the business, entered, and stole property.
Police believe this break-in is related to the following burglaries:
- November 25, 2016 - China King located at 3915 Ramsey Street
- December 1, 2016 - Hibachi Grill located at 3901 Ramsey Street
- December 1, 2016 - Golden China located at 2724 Bragg Boulevard
- December 16, 2016 - China One located at 3308 Bragg Boulevard
- December 16, 2016 - Little China located at 3837 Ramsey Street
The suspect is believed to be driving a white 2011-2014 Ford Focus hatchback with tinted windows as pictured below. Detectives are asking anyone with information about these burglaries to please come forward.
While police plead with the public for information, the Crime Prevention Unit is working with the targeted businesses on ways that can prevent future break-ins.
Since the crime spree, specialists have conducted surveys on the vulnerability of each targeted business. From there, police came up with suggestions for restaurant owners and printed the tips on brochures in five different languages for the businesses and their employees.
The suggestions included everything from aesthetics, lighting to surveillance video advice.
"A lot of our tips are common sense things that as you go along you tend to forget by habit or you don't pay attention to so we're realigning what they pay attention to and they're very receptive," said Crime Prevention Specialist Sandra Stevens.
Anyone with information regarding the identity of the suspect or the burglary investigations is asked to contact Detective A. Dickinson with the Fayetteville Police Department at (910) 709-7812 or Crimestoppers at (910) 483-TIPS (8477). Crimestoppers information can also be submitted electronically, by visiting http://fay-nccrimestoppers.org and completing the anonymous online tip sheet or by text-a-tip on your mobile device by sending a message to 274637 (in the text box type "4Tip" followed by your message).
