Asian American Business Owners Targeted in Recent Colonie Burglaries

Colonie, NY (WRGB) — A series of burglaries targeting Asian American business owners in the town of Colonie has left members of the community shaken.

Police have reported three high-end residential burglaries in the past two weeks, part of a nationwide trend that has affected the Capital Region over the last two years. Authorities say burglars surveil their victims, learning their routines before breaking into homes through windows or rear sliding doors.

“It seems that Asian Americans are being targeted, but part of that is proving who did it and what their motivation was,” said Sgt. Sidoti of the Colonie Police Department.

The burglaries have left many in the community deeply unsettled. Muhammad Jafar, a shopper at Asian Food Market in Albany, expressed disbelief.

“This neighborhood is really safe. It shouldn’t happen like this. It’s very sad—they shouldn’t target anyone,” he said.

Mohammed Khan described the situation as shocking.

“People are sick in the head, targeting Asian people,” Khan said.

Khan emphasized the importance of standing firm in the face of adversity.

“We have a right to be here and doing for our business. We stood for our rights,” he said.

Tenneson Cheeren, whose wife’s family owns the Asian Food Market in Albany, said the business is a cornerstone for the local Asian American community.

“It’s very convenient to get groceries that folks want from their countries,” he said. “For businesses, there’s a lot of traffic that keeps us going.”

Cheeren encouraged community members to speak up and support one another.

“We should acknowledge these things are happening. Don’t feel like it’s only happening to you,” he said. “If we report these situations in a timely manner, we can help each other.”

Dr. Binglin Li, executive director of the Chinese Community Center in Colonie, echoed the call for solidarity and resilience.

“We Asians have a reputation for being quiet and down-to-earth, but we can have a voice,” Li said. “Asian American business owners are resilient—we’re not afraid of instances like this.”

Colonie police say they are increasing patrols around Asian American establishments and are urging residents to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity. An official from the Asia Pacific American Public Affairs Association, a national nonprofit supporting Asian Americans, said they are optimistic about the steps Colonie police are taking to address the trend.

Authorities continue to investigate the recent burglaries, with a focus on deterring future incidents.