Authorities arrested four people Friday in connection with break-ins at more than 40 homes across Massachusetts, officials announced.
The break-ins date back to 2018 and targeted families of Indian or South Asian backgrounds, according to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.
In total, Ryan said the group stole jewelry and gems from at least 43 homes in 25 cities and towns spanning parts of Middlesex County, the North Shore, the South Shore and beyond.
Ryan described the alleged burglary ring as “sophisticated” and thanked law enforcement for their efforts to arrest the alleged burglars. She identified the individual people who were arrested as Jovan Lemon, 29; Paul Lemon, 30; Steven Berdugo, 28, and Paul Miller, 46.
The individuals, officials said, are believed to have ties to a “violent Providence-based gang known to law enforcement agencies in Rhode Island.”
“I wish to convey the pleasure we take in being able to seek justice for the victims of this criminal enterprise,” said state police Lt. Col. Mark Cyr at a press conference in Boston announcing the arrests.
“Such brazen criminal actions will not be tolerated in our communities,” he later added.
Ryan said investigators began looking into the burglary ring in the summer of 2023 after a spate of break-ins across Middlesex County. While investigators got to work, police departments across the region shared warnings.
“Residential break-ins are infrequent for Sudbury, but regionally there is an increase exhibiting similar patterns,” Sudbury police said in one message.
Hudson police reported two break-ins in a 48 hour span. In Weston, police chief Denis Linehan addressed his community in a video after a series of break-ins.
The Middlesex DA’s office said other break-ins happened in Billerica, Boxborough, Carlisle, Easton, Hopkinton, Lincoln, Andover, Bellingham, Boxford, Franklin, Littleton, Medway, Middleton, Millis, North Attleboro, Norwell, Pembroke, Seekonk, Sharon,…