Victims in massive theft ring won't rest until 4th suspect caught
VANCOUVER, Wash. – Members of the local Indian community say they won't sleep that well until they know everyone involved in massive theft ring has been arrested.
Police say the families were targeted by thieves who broke into as many as 40 homes across the area and stole gold and other valuables.
A regional task force arrested three suspects in Houston, Texas last month. Ana Maria Gutierrez, 32, is in the Washington County Jail. Two others, 18-year-old Rodney Portocarrero Riascos and 24-year-old Deenys Yossimar Ramos are being held for extradition in Houston.
Deputies say they think a fourth suspect, Vanderley Ortiz, 30, may be hiding in British Columbia.
For victims like Shirali Patel, until that fourth suspect is in custody, a walk to the store and a day at work will be filled with worry.
"You have that sense of insecurity now," she said. "Can I go to the grocery story? Do I know that my house could get broken into if I go to work?"
Patel worries because she knows the answer to that question on a September day was, "Yes."
Thieves broke into the back door of her family's Vancouver home and took everything that meant anything to them.
"Your heirlooms, things you'll never see again, never be replaced," she said. "I think that really hurts my family and my mom the most because she'll never see those things again, and that really hurts her because most of those things were irreplaceable."
Keeping wedding rings and gold jewelry from generations back in homes is a tradition that made the families a target for thieves.
Washington County detectives say the thieves traveled from Texas and targeted dozens of homes of Indian descent from Vancouver to Clackamas and Washington counties. Then investigators caught a break that led them to arrest the three suspects: a tip from a neighbor who spotted a car and license plate at a burglarized home.
"I think our entire Indian community is a lot more alert now," said Patel.
She is worried her community could be hit again.
"My reassurance is not there yet," she said. "And I'm very concerned as to what if somebody else hits my home. I mean, we've got nothing left, but still."
Wednesday was especially hard for the Patel family and their friends because it was India's biggest holiday of the year – Diwali. It's supposed to be a big celebration.
Washington County investigators believe there still may be other victims who haven't reported the theft or don't know they're a victim.
With the history of crime in India, you'd think they would have dumped the tradition of keeping the dowry at home. Sucks that people have work at not being victims. Shouldn't be that way.
"Victims in massive theft ring won't rest until 4th suspect caught"Â (?)Â After living in Portland for so many years we were burglarized several times in various capacities.Â
If we had adopted the same ridiculous mentality "won't rest until the last suspect is caught" we'd never get any sleep. Do people really believe something magical happens when law enforcement catches the perpetrators?
Â
Is the public so programmed where we can only find closure after "justice" has been served?  Time to step away from the television and avoid the crime-drama shows.Â
Â
One more thought, how is this crime of theft different than any other? We lost "generations" of family heirlooms but since we're white-bread is doesn't carry the same value? Â
Â
Who writes this garbage?
Maybe they should just open another casino to cover their loses.
This comment has been deleted
I feel bad for the folks that were ripped-off by these skel's and hopefully some 'memories' can be found by law enforcement. I heard a well known radio figure in Portland today suggest that perhaps folks that live here are too complacent about crime when the picking's are so plentiful...