Bellingham police arrest 4 suspects in burglary spree targeting Asian residents
Four people have been arrested and charged for their suspected roles in a string of burglaries in the area targeting Asian people.
Officers with the Bellingham Police Department arrested Houston residents Kenver Lenny Cortes Romero, 41; John Jaider Moreno Ruiz, 44; Edward Enrique Rodriguez, 52; and Spencer Alvarez, 42, on Feb. 20 on charges including hate crimes.
The investigation began when a Bellingham man of Asian descent reported to police that someone had broken into his house Feb. 18 while he was at work. A camera outside his home captured a black Dodge Durango pulling into his neighbor’s driveway at the time of the burglary.
A Snohomish County Police Department officer identified the car as being involved in three other burglaries targeting Asian individuals in the Snohomish and Mill Creek jurisdictions. A black Hyundai Elantra was also spotted at these scenes, according to court records.
The Durango was registered to Rodriguez, court documents show, and the Elantra was registered to Castillo. Both cars were seen parked outside Asian-owned businesses Feb. 18.
Police obtained a search warrant and placed trackers on the vehicles the following day. The trackers showed the cars in Anacortes, where the home of an Asian couple was robbed.
Officers served search warrants on both vehicles Feb. 20. Rodriguez, who was in the Durango with Romero, told police that they were driving around looking for work. Romero said they were taking a drive to “learn the area,” according to court documents, and said he never left the apartment where they were staying the day prior. They were both taken into custody.
Alvarez and Ruiz were in the other car, and when police stopped them, Ruiz got out of the passenger seat and fled. He was in a full facemask and dark clothing, and was later found by a K-9 team. He and Alvarez were arrested.
When police searched the two apartments associated with the men, they found “go bags” full of jewelry, designer handbags and cash.
Police believe the men are part of a South American Theft Group, or SATG. These groups have been reported nationwide, and they often target Asian families through sprees of residential burglaries.
According to court records, the men were found to be in possession of items stolen last year, and investigators think they have committed burglaries throughout northwest Washington. Additional charges from jurisdictions outside Bellingham are expected. More than $1.4 million in losses have been reported due to the burglaries so far.
All four men were charged with criminal conspiracy for a residential burglary and the commission of a hate crime, as well as second-degree malicious mischief. They remained in custody at Whatcom County Jail as of Thursday afternoon.
This story was originally published February 27, 2026 at 5:15 AM with the headline "Bellingham police arrest 4 suspects in burglary spree targeting Asian residents."