ID :
211126
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 13:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/211126
The shortlink copeid
Tradition to own gold making Indians target of robberies in US
New York, Oct 4 (PTI) Tradition among Indians to buy and
stock up gold is proving to be dangerous for Indian-Americans
here who are increasingly becoming victims of robberies where
gun-totting thieves have fled away with their stockpiles of
the precious metal.
Such robberies have particularly picked up pace among the
fast growing Indian-American community in Silicon Valley,
where "thieves, it appears, have learned of these traditions
(among Indians to own gold), leading to a rash of robberies"
in recent months.
Police officer Jeff Swadener of the Fremont Police
Department was quoted as saying in a New York Times report
that Indian-Americans were known for owning high-quality gold
of 20 and 22 karats.
"With the price of gold surging since the recession
began, that makes them lucrative targets."
Swadener said thieves would probably get "just as much"
out of robbing a house with gold as they would get from
robbing a bank.
According to the US Census, Indian-Americans are one of
the fastest-growing communities in the Bay Area.
Fremont city councilwoman Anu Natarajian said the
robberies have increased "significantly" over the past nine
months.
"It is not a random thing that is happening. People are
afraid. People are nervous about it."
Most of the thefts have happened while residents were not
home.
In a recent case of robbery, an Indian couple and their
6-year-old son were held at gunpoint while thieves ransacked
their home, ripped chains off the wife’s neck and snatched the
husband’s bracelet.
In all the family lost gold worth over USD 25,000.
Krati Rungta, co-founder of a website for Indians, 'Bay
Area Desi' said people were worried that their traditions
had made them "easy targets." PTI YAS
MNS
stock up gold is proving to be dangerous for Indian-Americans
here who are increasingly becoming victims of robberies where
gun-totting thieves have fled away with their stockpiles of
the precious metal.
Such robberies have particularly picked up pace among the
fast growing Indian-American community in Silicon Valley,
where "thieves, it appears, have learned of these traditions
(among Indians to own gold), leading to a rash of robberies"
in recent months.
Police officer Jeff Swadener of the Fremont Police
Department was quoted as saying in a New York Times report
that Indian-Americans were known for owning high-quality gold
of 20 and 22 karats.
"With the price of gold surging since the recession
began, that makes them lucrative targets."
Swadener said thieves would probably get "just as much"
out of robbing a house with gold as they would get from
robbing a bank.
According to the US Census, Indian-Americans are one of
the fastest-growing communities in the Bay Area.
Fremont city councilwoman Anu Natarajian said the
robberies have increased "significantly" over the past nine
months.
"It is not a random thing that is happening. People are
afraid. People are nervous about it."
Most of the thefts have happened while residents were not
home.
In a recent case of robbery, an Indian couple and their
6-year-old son were held at gunpoint while thieves ransacked
their home, ripped chains off the wife’s neck and snatched the
husband’s bracelet.
In all the family lost gold worth over USD 25,000.
Krati Rungta, co-founder of a website for Indians, 'Bay
Area Desi' said people were worried that their traditions
had made them "easy targets." PTI YAS
MNS