WOBURN, Mass. — As the sentencing of an alleged mastermind in a series of residential robberies targeting Indian and South Asian families approaches on Friday/August 14, community members are being urged to take one simple step: sign an Open Letter of Support for the victims and their families.

It takes less than 30 seconds to sign.

Click here to sign.

The petition is more than a request for accountability in one criminal case. It is a statement that when families are allegedly targeted because of their ethnicity, culture or perceived wealth, the impact goes far beyond the loss of jewelry, gold, cash or other possessions.

Homes are supposed to be places of safety.

But the alleged robberies left families questioning that basic sense of security—and wondering whether their homes, vehicles and daily routines were being watched.

According to prosecutors, the series of alleged residential break-ins across Massachusetts involved homes in Woburn, Wilmington, Burlington and North Reading between June and July 2025. Prosecutors have alleged that the perpetrators specifically targeted Indian and South Asian households because they believed those families were more likely to have gold, jewelry, heirlooms, cash and other valuables.

The investigation also uncovered allegations of sophisticated surveillance and planning, including GPS trackers placed on vehicles, hidden cameras and Wi-Fi jammers.

The case has resulted in a significant law-enforcement effort involving the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police, local police departments and federal authorities.

For victims and their families, however, the consequences extend beyond the courtroom.

As Samir Desai, whose Lincoln home was among those burglarized, has previously said, these were not simply property crimes.

“These were not just property crimes—they were attacks on our sense of safety, our homes, and our heritage.”

Desai and other community advocates have urged Indian and South Asian families to attend the August 14 sentencing hearing, either in person at Woburn District Court or through the court’s virtual proceeding, to demonstrate solidarity with the victims.

The community has also been working to turn the fear and anger generated by the robberies into a broader call for awareness, communication and protection.

Now, community members have another opportunity to stand together: sign the petition.

The Open Letter asks prosecutors, courts, law enforcement agencies and community leaders to recognize the broader impact of crimes that allegedly target families because of their racial, ethnic, cultural or perceived economic identity.

It calls for stronger communication with vulnerable communities, culturally informed outreach, greater attention to patterns of targeted crime and long-term strategies to help families feel safe in their own homes.

Most importantly, the letter tells victims and their families that they are not alone.

Why your signature matters

A petition cannot replace the work of prosecutors, courts or law enforcement. But it can demonstrate something that is difficult to measure in a police report or courtroom filing: the strength and solidarity of the community affected by these crimes.

A few seconds spent signing can help send a clear message before the August 14 sentencing:

Indian and South Asian families deserve to feel safe in their own homes.

Targeted crimes against our community will not be ignored.

We will stand with the victims.

Community members are encouraged to sign the Open Letter of Support today and share it with friends, family members, neighborhood groups and community organizations.

Sign the Open Letter of Support

Stand With Indian and South Asian Families Targeted in Home Robberies

To the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts courts, law enforcement agencies, and community leaders:

We, the undersigned members and supporters of the Indian and South Asian American community, stand united in support of the families who were targeted in a series of alleged coordinated residential robberies across Massachusetts.

These were not simply losses of jewelry, cash, or other property.

For the families affected, their homes—the places where they should feel safest—were violated. Their privacy, security, peace of mind, and sense of belonging were deeply shaken.

According to prosecutors, these homes were allegedly targeted because the perpetrators believed Indian and South Asian families were more likely to have gold, jewelry, heirlooms, cash, and other valuables. If proven, such conduct represents something far more serious than an ordinary property crime. It reflects the exploitation of our culture, our traditions, and our identity.

We cannot remain silent.

As the court prepares to sentence the defendant on August 14, 2026, we call on the justice system to recognize the full impact these crimes have had—not only on the individual victims, but on an entire community that continues to live with fear and uncertainty.

We ask for justice.

We ask for accountability.

We ask for protection.

We respectfully call upon prosecutors and the courts to ensure that the seriousness of these crimes and the profound impact on the victims and community are fully considered in the pursuit of justice.

We also ask law enforcement and community leaders to recognize the broader implications of crimes that allegedly target families because of their racial, ethnic, cultural, or perceived economic identity.

A burglary may take possessions. A targeted attack can take away a family’s sense of safety in its own home.

That harm does not end when stolen property is recovered or a criminal case reaches court.

Families may continue to wonder whether they are being watched. Parents may worry about their children. Elderly family members may feel vulnerable. And communities may begin to question whether the very traditions they cherish—wearing and preserving gold, jewelry, and family heirlooms—make them targets.

We refuse to allow fear to divide us.

We commend the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police, local police departments, federal authorities, and all investigators who worked to identify and prosecute those alleged to be responsible. We urge continued cooperation among law enforcement agencies and the community to ensure that these cases receive the attention and follow-through they deserve.

But our work cannot end with a sentencing.

We call for lasting community protection.

We urge law enforcement and policymakers to:

• Take seriously credible reports of crimes that appear to target Indian, South Asian, immigrant, or other specific communities.
• Strengthen communication and information-sharing with vulnerable communities.
• Continue educating families about emerging threats, surveillance techniques, and organized criminal activity.
• Ensure culturally informed outreach and meaningful engagement with affected residents.
• Investigate patterns of targeted crime and pursue appropriate accountability under the law.
• Work with community organizations to develop long-term strategies that help families feel safe in their own homes.

Most importantly, we want every family affected by these crimes to know:

You are not alone.

We stand with the victims.

We stand with their families.

We stand with every Indian and South Asian household that has felt vulnerable because of these crimes.

And we stand for a community where our heritage, our traditions, and our success should never be used as reasons to target us.

On August 14, we will stand together—whether in the courtroom, through the court’s virtual proceeding, or by signing this letter—to make one message unmistakably clear:

Indian and South Asian families deserve to feel safe in their own homes.

Targeted crimes against our community will not be ignored.

We will speak up. We will stand together. And we will continue to demand justice, accountability, and protection.

Please add your name to this Open Letter of Support.

Together, we stand with the victims.
Together, we demand accountability.
Together, we protect our community.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned Members and Supporters of the Indian and South Asian American Community

Organized and supported by INDIA New England News / Indian Community Resource Center.