EUGENE, Ore. – Eugene police are investigating another break-in targeting an Asian American business owner, marking roughly the 25th confirmed crime in the Eugene-Springfield area over the past couple of years.
Police received a call in the early afternoon Thursday reporting a break-in in the Churchill neighborhood of west Eugene. Police say the break-in is believed to be the work of a burglary crew targeting individual victims as opposed to a specific area. This comes after a string of daytime break-ins that targeted Asian American business owners while they were at work.
“There’s a perception that Asians tend to keep a lot of cash or jewelry valuables at home,” said Jensina Hawkins, law enforcement liaison for the Asian American Council of Oregon. “It’s not really an Asian specific thing, although it is a stereotype. There’s also misperceptions that Asians are rich, and, gosh, I really wish that was true. There’s also some stereotypes that Asians don’t necessarily push back.”…