Asian American community on edge after targeted home invasions in South Seattle

Asian American leaders and city officials are reacting to news this week that a series of more than a dozen violent robberies in South Seattle targeted elderly Asian residents and their families.

The crimes have revived concerns that non-native English speakers and first-generation immigrants might be wary of police, even if they are the victims of violent crimes, and renewed a push to provide the Asian American community in South Seattle with resources so they can better protect themselves and their families.

At a press conference Tuesday, Seattle Police Detective Judinna Gulpan said police suspect all 14 robberies since June have been conducted by the same group of teenagers.

During the robberies, some victims have been pistol whipped. In one instance, a 10-year-old was led through their house at gunpoint while the family was robbed.

Connie So, president of the Organization of Chinese Americans of Greater Seattle and a professor at UW, lives in Beacon Hill, one of several neighborhoods that have been targeted.

So said home invasions have been an issue in South Seattle for a long time.

“My mom passed away a few years ago, and at that time, she was always telling me, ‘This person just got a home invasion robbery, that person has gotten a home invasion robbery,” So said.

Some of the people targeted in the most recent string of robberies were first-generation immigrants, part of inter-generational homes, who were not native-English speakers, and might not have trusted institutions like the local government and the police, So said.

“I think what hits home is the fact that so many of the people I know who have been going through these crimes, they don't really want to talk about that much,” she said.

What’s likely driving these home robberies are ongoing problems — a lack of resources and lack of community connection, So said.

“[More] police is not really the answer,” she said. “They're pretty quick, actually 13 to 15 minutes, they responded right, but they’re only there after the crime has been committed.”

She welcomed programs that guide people away from crime as well as ways to include immigrants who don’t primarily speak English more into city policy.

Em Rose is with the Chinese Information and Service Center, which provides resources for immigrant communities through the region.

“The recent home invasions are very frightening,” Rose said. “We haven’t directly supported any of the families who were attacked, but we are very concerned about this issue.”

Using the app "WeChat," Rose said workers at the center are sending out tips on how to ask for an interpreter when calling 911, providing general safety tips, and encouraging people to build safety networks in their neighborhoods.