Silver Spring robbery could be related to others targeting Asians
Two women robbed Wednesday in Colesville; suspects described as black teenagers
Two Asian women were robbed Wednesday evening by two men in an incident police believe is related to three other robberies targeting Asians, according to police.
In each of the incidents, police believe the victims are being followed home from businesses frequented by Asians and robbed in their driveway or garage.
On Wednesday, the victims arrived home shortly before 6 p.m. and parked in the driveway at a home on Stratford Manor Terrace in the Colesville area of Silver Spring, according to Montgomery County police. The first victim, 48, entered the garage and attempted to go inside the house when the first suspect struck her, took her personal property, and fled on foot. He is described as a 16- to 17-year-old black male, 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall and wearing blue jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood partially obstructing his face.
The second victim, 52, remained at the car and was approached by the second suspect, who demanded her property, took it from the car and fled on foot, police said. He was described as a black male, 16 to 17 years old, 5 feet 6 to 5 feet 9 inches tall and wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt, which also obstructed his face.
The victims were uninjured.
In three other robberies, which occurred Sept. 1 in Bethesda, Sept. 19 in Wheaton and Sept. 21 in Kensington, the suspects were described similarly and the victims were all elderly Asians returning home from "Asian business establishments," including grocery stores. However, the victims in latest incident were younger than previous victims. Lt. Paul Starks, police spokesman, said police are "unsure" why Asians are being targeted, but "There is some thought that there is a belief by some that sometimes older people of any background don't call police, they don't want to bother them, and especially older people of other cultures sometimes don't want to call the police."
Anyone who has any information that may be related to these robberies is encouraged to call Montgomery County Police at 301-657-0112 or 240-773-5530.
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