SEATTLE — Seattle police are investigating recent home invasion robberies in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood.
Last week, two residents in the Beacon Hill area reported a group of male suspects with guns attempting to break into their homes, one try which was successful. Police said the recent robberies are similar to a series of robberies that took place over the summer targeting elderly Asian community members in the Beacon Hill and Rainier Valley neighborhoods.
The summer robberies sparked fear in several people living in South Seattle, causing some to install security systems and buy guns.
"A lot of older, especially Asian American men I know have gotten guns and a lot of Latinx men I know have also gotten guns. I think they all feel like, we all know police don't come until after the crime is committed," said Connie So, who has lived in Beacon Hill for more than 50 years and is the president of the Asian Pacific American Advocates of the Greater Seattle Area.
Seattle Police said the victims of the most recent home invasions last week were also Asian Americans targeted by groups of young males. So said she thinks it is more a crime of opportunity, in a diverse area.
"When it comes to people hurting different people, different races, I think that's more likely to happen just because you have a lot of diversity," said So of the crimes in South Seattle, which is one of the most diverse areas of the city.
On Dec. 18, officers responded to a report of a home invasion in Beacon Hill. A man told police that while he was walking home from the casino, he was approached by several male suspects armed with guns, according to the Seattle Police Department blotter.
The suspects forced the man to open his front door, then ransacked his home looking for valuables, police said. The suspects stole cash and fled the scene.
Two days later on Dec. 20, a man reported to police that three suspects attempted to break down his door and fled in a vehicle, police said. At the same house the next day, four male suspects returned and took a sledgehammer to the front door, police said. The homeowner told police he woke up when he heard banging at the door and armed himself with a rifle.
When the suspects attempted to enter the home, the man shot at them, police said. The suspects fired back as they retreated and drove off in a vehicle. The homeowner was uninjured. Police said it is unknown if any of the suspects were shot.
Community members said more prevention efforts should be in place to help stop these crimes from happening, such as more lighting in dark areas, community officers patrolling the area, safety communications in multiple languages to residents, community programs for young people, and more surveillance tools.
"I think the fact that they're happening at higher frequency and that people are coming into people's homes, when they're home, armed is especially frightening," said Tanya Woo, who grew up in Beacon Hill and is a community activist who recently lost her run to represent this area on Seattle City Council. "I think just getting that out that these are happening, are still continuing to happen. We have to remain vigilant and watch out for one another, especially our neighbors."
During the summer, police recorded at least 14 home invasion incidents between June and August in Beacon Hill and Rainier Valley. Most of these incidents involved the suspects accosting victims outside of their homes or even forcing their way inside of victim's homes, according to police. Victims were often assaulted at gunpoint.
Five of six suspects in the summer home invasion robberies were arraigned in October, however the department says they are concerned with a recent uptick in the similar cases.
Anyone with information about the home invasion robberies are asked to contact the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.