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The homes of two local Asian business owners -- one in Old Lycoming Township and another in South Williamsport -- were burglarized on Friday, according to law enforcement. No one was home when the properties were forcibly entered, and it was unknown what was taken in the break-ins. The home in South Williamsport was ransacked, borough police said.
Both Lycoming Regional and borough police said they believe the homes were targeted by the burglars and were not just random acts. Due to the sensitivity of the investigations, police declined to provide specific locations of the burglaries. However, borough police said their incident occurred in the east end of South Williamsport while Lycoming Regional reported the burglary in the township happened near the 2400 block of Bottle Run Road.
This was the second time in under two years that the Asian business owner's home in the township was burglarized, Lycoming Regional police confirmed. In late 2021, the Asian business owner who lives near Bottle Run Road was the victim of a home break-in, as was a second Asian business owner whose residence also was broken into.
Montoursville police said the Arthur Road home of an Asian business owner was the scene of a burglary on three occasions between late October 2020, when jewelry and assorted items were taken, and last September, police said.
No arrests have been made in any of the break-ins.
Lycoming Regional police Capt. Christopher Kriner said he has heard of reports of countless Asian business owners throughout the country being the victims of home burglaries. There is no known motive, he said.