Latinos Targeted In Rash Of Richmond Muggings And Robberies

RICHMOND, Calif. (KCBS)  -- Contra Costa County Sheriff's Deputies in North Richmond are trying get a handle on a rash of muggings in which the criminals appear to be targeting Latinos.

Records show Latino men walking alone were the victims in almost every reported mugging in Richmond to this point in 2006.

"We determined that that seemed to be a pattern, that the robbers were targeting Hispanic or non-English speaking citizens," Contra Costa County Sheriff's Sergeant Sammy Smith Jr. told KCBS Reporter Henry Mulak. "This made it very difficult for us to start an investigation, because there was a language barrier."

So far there have been at least 33 armed robberies. Many of them have occurred near the corner of 5th Street and Market Avenue.

All but four of them are believed to have been carried out by the same two suspects.

Smith said that the robbers are exploiting some Latinos' inability to speak English, and as a result, Sheriff's Deputies are enlisting the help of translators.

"They look for potential victims, someone who is helpless, and an easy target," Smith told KCBS's Mulak. "And someone who will make it difficult for police officers to get the information they need -- it's difficult for everyone. It's difficult for the Latino [victim], and other non-English speaking people that are out there in the community trying to make a living, and it's also difficult for law enforcement."

Smith said the criminals are also exploiting the Latinos' fear of contacting law enforcement, as well as the fact the robberies are occurring in an unincorporated area of Richmond, not patrolled by that city's police department.

Deputies say they're reaching out to community members to let them know they want to catch the suspects, and are open to any information they may have that may help in the investigation.

"We're trying to establish a good rapport with Latinos in the community," Smith said. "We want them to trust us. We want them to know that we're here to help them. We don't want them to be afraid that they're going to be arrested, because they don;t have the proper documents."

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