BOSTON — A highly anticipated court hearing in the South Asian home robbery case will take place today, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 3:00 PM at Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn, Massachusetts. The hearing will also be streamed live on Zoom, with public access allowed. Participants are asked to remain on mute during the proceedings.
Please see the details below to join on zoom:
https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1610815426?pwd=Vi8zYXViaXRWbzJRUi9uQk9RMXI5UT09
Meeting ID: 161 081 5426
Passcode: 12345
This case has drawn widespread attention across Massachusetts and beyond, following a pattern of targeted burglaries that affected over 40 towns and left dozens of Indian-American and South Asian families reeling. Prosecutors allege the burglaries were not random, but carefully planned to exploit cultural practices and target valuable, often irreplaceable heirlooms and religious artifacts.
Today’s hearing follows a postponement from May 16, after defense attorneys requested the court consider a pre-trial resolution that could have resulted in a reduced sentence for the defendants. That delay sparked renewed outrage and galvanized the community, culminating in a petition with 111 signatures urging the court to impose the maximum penalty allowable by law.
Among the powerful voices at today’s hearing is the Desai Family, whose home in Lincoln, MA, was among the 92 burglarized over a six-year span. The family has submitted (or will read aloud) the following emotional statement to the court:
“We appear before you not just as victims of theft, but as members of a community that has been profoundly violated. Ninety-two homes. Forty-one towns. Six years. Over four million dollars in stolen treasures. And yet, no number can ever capture what was truly taken from us.What these men stole was not merely gold or jewelry—it was memory, identity, and peace.
They took the necklace a mother wore at her wedding, the bangles that marked a child’s birth, the jewels my daughter was supposed to wear at her wedding, given to her by her now late grandmother. These weren’t items of wealth alone—they were expressions of love, lineage, culture, and history.This was not a crime of opportunity. This was premeditated. Researched. Calculated.They searched “rich Indian communities.”
They tracked temple attendance. They followed our cars, jammed our Wi-Fi, and scaled our walls. They knew who we were—and they knew why they were targeting us.To rob is one crime. But to deliberately and repeatedly target a racial and cultural group based on our customs and values is something more insidious.
It is hate masked as burglary. And it has left behind a trail of fear, silence, and trauma that will take years—perhaps generations—to heal.We have invested our lives in this country and in Massachusetts. We are doctors, engineers, small business owners. We are neighbors. And yet today, we live with the terrifying realization that someone thought we were less worthy of safety simply because of who we are.Your Honor, we are here today because we believe the law must speak not only to the letter, but to the spirit of justice.We ask you to sentence these individuals to the maximum extent the law allows. Not because we seek revenge—but because we seek protection. For ourselves. For our community.
Anything less would be a message—to these men, to future criminals, and to every community watching—that South Asian families can be terrorized without consequence. That our cultural identity is an easy map for thieves. That our pain is negotiable.We refuse that message.This courtroom is not just a place of legal procedure. It is where a community comes to ask: Will you protect us? Will you see us? Will you honor what was lost—not just in value, but in dignity?Thank you.
Samir A. Desai.”
The statement has become a rallying cry for many within the South Asian community, who say the crimes represent not just theft, but a deeper violation of cultural identity and belonging.
Supporting that sentiment, a petition titled “Letter of Support: Demand for Justice and Protection of South Asian Families” accuses the burglars of “knowingly and systematically targeting our homes, families, and heritage.” It demands the maximum sentence and calls for cultural sensitivity training for law enforcement, as well as enhanced protections for immigrant and minority communities.
community leaders like Upendra Mishra, publisher of INDIA New England News, and Mr. Desai have urged South Asian families and allies to attend the hearing and demonstrate solidarity.
“This is about more than stolen property—it’s about stolen trust, violated homes, and a direct assault on our cultural identity,” said Mishra. “By showing up in court and signing this petition, we’re drawing a line against a larger pattern of bias and vulnerability.”
Over the past several months, at least 43 South Asian families across Eastern Massachusetts have reported similarly coordinated burglaries. In each case, intruders allegedly targeted heirloom gold, traditional jewelry, and sacred objects with cultural and religious significance. Community members fear these incidents reflect not just economic crime, but cultural profiling.
As today’s hearing unfolds, many believe the outcome will send a powerful message—not just about punishment, but about recognition, dignity, and the equal protection of all communities under the law.
