Safety alert for several counties in eastern North Carolina
CLAYTON, N.C. (WTVD) -- Crooks are targeting Chinese restaurant owners across nine counties in eastern North Carolina, and it's got the attention of state law enforcement.
The State Bureau of Investigation along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives issued a crime alert with area law enforcement about a string of home invasions involving the business owners.
"I would be shocked if it's not gang-related, but at this time all we know is we got an unknown group operating to target and attack Asian restaurant business owners," said Detective Jason Linder with the Clayton Police Department.
The SBI says since December of 2013, Asian restaurant owners in Beaufort, Craven, Edgecombe, Halifax, Johnston, Lenoir, Onslow, Pitt, and Wayne Counties have all been victims of violent home invasion robberies.
The victims - which have included men, women, and children - have been restrained, physically assaulted, and robbed as they were returning to their homes after working in area restaurants.
Linder wouldn't reveal the restaurant or victim in Clayton, but said the incident happened April 1 at one of the Chinese restaurants near the intersection of Interstate 40 and Highway 42.
Someone followed the owners home after closing, forced their way into their home and pistol-whipped one of them so severely they needed medical treatment at a local emergency room. According to police, the crooks tied up the others inside the home, and then made off with what should have been a nightly deposit.
"Yes, yes. Its common knowledge that Asian owners bring home their night deposits with them," Linder explained.
So far police haven't arrested anyone for the crimes.
The SBI and local police departments have warned all Chinese restaurant owners in the nine counties to pay extra attention to who's coming and going out of their businesses.
ATF, Craven County Crime Stoppers, Edgecombe/ Nash County Crime Stoppers, and Pitt County Crime Stoppers have combined with the Clayton Police Department and the Tarboro Police Department to offer an $8,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individual(s) responsible for the home invasion robberies.
