Eugene burglary fits pattern targeting Asian American business owners' homes

A west Eugene break-in on the city’s west side matched a burglary pattern Eugene police have been warning about for months, one that investigators say has repeatedly hit homes tied to Asian American business owners and other professionals. Officers received the call at 12:33 p.m. on April 16 from residents in the Churchill Neighborhood, and police said the suspects appeared to have chosen the house because they believed it could contain cash, jewelry, safes and other valuables.

Eugene police said the homes are not being selected because of one specific neighborhood. Instead, investigators believe burglary crews are screening for a victim profile they expect to be profitable, then striking while residents are away at work. In prior cases, police said, suspects have stolen safes, blocked or jammed surveillance devices before entering, and used planning that suggests the burglaries were not random opportunistic thefts. Investigators have also described suspects posing as gardeners, delivery drivers, pizza or food couriers, or wearing high-visibility clothing to avoid drawing attention.

The April 16 burglary landed in the middle of a broader investigation that has been active since late 2023. In October 2025, Eugene and Springfield police said Asian American business owners had been the target of nearly two dozen sophisticated burglaries. At that time, investigators estimated about 21 Eugene burglaries were connected to an organized group, and police arrested seven people in early October 2025. Some of those arrestees were later linked to similar crimes in other jurisdictions.

Police have also said some of the burglaries involved signal jammers, Wi-Fi disruption, cutting power, or turning breakers off before entry. That detail has driven a push for neighbors to share doorbell-camera footage from nearby homes, since the victim’s own security system may have been disabled. At a public safety forum on Oct. 23, 2025, organized by the Asian American Council of Oregon at the Korean Presbyterian Church of Eugene, Eugene Police Chief Chris Skinner, Springfield Police Chief Jami Resch, Lane County Sheriff Carl Wilkerson, Lane County District Attorney Chris Parosa and Oregon DOJ bias crime prosecutor Gavin Bruce urged residents to watch out for suspicious people and vehicles.

Eugene police are also pressing prevention steps that go beyond alarms. They recommend keeping large amounts of cash in a financial institution, using safety deposit boxes for heirlooms and jewelry, hardwiring video surveillance when possible, and mounting safes securely if residents keep one at home. Officers also advise deadbolts, timers for lights and TVs, closed blinds, exterior lighting and mutual aid with neighbors. The department’s Community Engagement Team is offering free Home Vacation Checks and Home Safety Assessments as families and business owners adapt to a burglary pattern that has changed how many people in Eugene secure their homes and workspaces.