CrimeApr 24, 2024
Jewelry Crime Declines Significantly, But Dollar Losses Remain High CrimeMay 02, 2024
4 Indicted in Burglary Ring Targeting Indian, South Asian Families
The men are allegedly responsible for stealing millions in jewelry and other valuables in 43 burglaries in 25 towns across Massachusetts.
Authorities have arrested and indicted four men allegedly tied to 43 home burglaries, stealing jewelry and other valuables from mainly Indian and South Asian families in Massachusetts.
Boston—Authorities have arrested four Rhode Island men in connection with a string of 43 burglaries targeting Indian and South Asian families in 25 towns across Massachusetts.
The burglaries took place between July 21, 2018 and March 30, 2024, according to a release from Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Massachusetts State Police Colonel John Mawn Jr.
Jovan Lemon, 29, of Providence, Paul Lemon, 30, of Warwick, Steven Berdugo, 28, of Providence, and Paul Miller, 46, of Woonsocket, are allegedly part of an organized burglary ring with ties to a “violent” Providence-based gang known to law enforcement agencies in Rhode Island.
On April 18, a Middlesex grand jury indicted the men on a total of 95 counts of unarmed burglary and breaking and entering a house in the daytime with intent to commit a felony.
According to the release, the burglaries took place in: Andover, Bellingham, Billerica, Boxborough, Boxford, Carlisle, Easton, Franklin, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lincoln, Littleton, Medway, Middleton, Millis, North Attleboro, Norwell, Pembroke, Seekonk, Sharon, Southborough, Sudbury, Wenham, Weston, and Westwood.
The residents of a majority of the homes were people of Indian or South Asian heritage, said the release, and are believed to have been targeted by the criminals based on the idea that households of these ethnicities were “more likely to contain precious metals, jewelry, and other valuable heirlooms.”
The total reported value of stolen property exceeds $4 million, said authorities.
Many pieces of jewelry, set with diamonds and other gemstones, were stolen, including individual pieces with a value of up to $75,000, as well as gold bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, and large quantities of cash.
In several cases, the family’s valuables were in locked safes weighing up to 400 pounds, which were taken by the thieves.
“If any of you have ever had the experience of having your home or apartment broken into, you know how invasive that crime is,” Ryan, the district attorney, said during a press conference held this week.
“If you add to that having knowledge, or at least a suspicion, that your home was targeted not just to gain property, but because of who you are [and] your ethnic heritage, I think that gives you some sense of the trauma inflicted.”
Related stories will be right here …
The burglaries took place between July 21, 2018 and March 30, 2024, according to a release from Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Massachusetts State Police Colonel John Mawn Jr.
Jovan Lemon, 29, of Providence, Paul Lemon, 30, of Warwick, Steven Berdugo, 28, of Providence, and Paul Miller, 46, of Woonsocket, are allegedly part of an organized burglary ring with ties to a “violent” Providence-based gang known to law enforcement agencies in Rhode Island.
On April 18, a Middlesex grand jury indicted the men on a total of 95 counts of unarmed burglary and breaking and entering a house in the daytime with intent to commit a felony.
According to the release, the burglaries took place in: Andover, Bellingham, Billerica, Boxborough, Boxford, Carlisle, Easton, Franklin, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lincoln, Littleton, Medway, Middleton, Millis, North Attleboro, Norwell, Pembroke, Seekonk, Sharon, Southborough, Sudbury, Wenham, Weston, and Westwood.
The residents of a majority of the homes were people of Indian or South Asian heritage, said the release, and are believed to have been targeted by the criminals based on the idea that households of these ethnicities were “more likely to contain precious metals, jewelry, and other valuable heirlooms.”
The total reported value of stolen property exceeds $4 million, said authorities.
Many pieces of jewelry, set with diamonds and other gemstones, were stolen, including individual pieces with a value of up to $75,000, as well as gold bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, and large quantities of cash.
In several cases, the family’s valuables were in locked safes weighing up to 400 pounds, which were taken by the thieves.
“If any of you have ever had the experience of having your home or apartment broken into, you know how invasive that crime is,” Ryan, the district attorney, said during a press conference held this week.
“If you add to that having knowledge, or at least a suspicion, that your home was targeted not just to gain property, but because of who you are [and] your ethnic heritage, I think that gives you some sense of the trauma inflicted.”
In the press release, Ryan described the defendants as “very sophisticated.”
“They targeted victims based on their ethnicity and then gathered information about their targets in order to strike when families were not at home. They were disciplined in concealing their identity, avoiding alarms, and minimizing cell phone use before, during, and after the breaks, and using Wi-Fi jammers,” she said.
“Despite these challenges and the complicated nature and breadth of this investigation, law enforcement collaboratively and persistently worked to today begin the process of holding these four defendants accountable.”
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Cyr, commander of the Massachusetts State Police Division of Homeland Security, said: “The theft crew we arrested today stole countless items of great monetary, emotional, and cultural value from families in multiple states, and did so by violating the sanctity of their homes.
“Such brazen criminal actions will not be tolerated in our communities. This investigation highlights the dedication of our law enforcement partners to work collaboratively to take down complex criminal networks.”
The arrests follow a nine-month investigation by various Massachusetts law enforcement agencies, with assistance from agencies in Rhode Island.
The investigation is open and ongoing.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Crime
The Latest
PodcastsOct 21, 2026
Episode 10: This Episode Is Haunted Diana Singer shared the stories of two “cursed” diamonds on this month’s podcast, which was inexplicably riddled with technical issues.
IndependentsOct 21, 2026
Gardner-Collier Jewelry to Close After 9 Decades in BusinessThe family-owned jeweler has three locations across Missouri and Iowa.
SourcingOct 21, 2026
Venetia Mines Final Carats Ahead of 2-Year ShutdownThe De Beers-owned diamond mine in South Africa is being put on ice as part of a round of previously announced cost-cutting measures.
Brought to you by
A Diamond Is Forever Launches 2026 Holiday Campaign Championing Natural DiamondsA Diamond Is Forever's holiday campaign reimagines natural diamond icons for a new generation celebrating individuality.
CollectionsOct 21, 2026
Helzberg, Nordstrom Carrying New Jewelry Collection From Off-WhiteThe collection centers designs with clean geometric lines, chunky sculptural pieces, and recognizable details from the luxury fashion brand.
Weekly QuizOct 15, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingOct 21, 2026
Gemfields’ Mixed-Quality Ruby Auction Earns $52MThe miner said it saw particularly strong prices for larger, fine-quality rubies at the sale.
IndependentsOct 20, 2026
David Gardner’s Jewelers Unveils Newly Expanded, Revamped ShowroomThe Texas jeweler added 2,000 square feet to its reimagined showroom, complete with a new design studio and an event space.
Brought to you by
Open an Account, Get $50 Off Your First Order. No Code Needed.Built on Relationships. Refined by Craft.
SourcingOct 20, 2026
The $50M Victoria’s Secret ‘Fantasy Bra’ By The NumbersJacob & Co.'s diamond masterpiece is the most expensive Fantasy Bra ever worn on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway.
CollectionsOct 20, 2026
Mignon Faget’s Collection Chooses Handmade Over AIThe “Atelier” collection was inspired by the tools, rituals, and objects in an artist’s studio as a quiet rebuttal to an automated world.
MajorsOct 19, 2026
The Knot to Acquire Rival Wedding Planning Platform ZolaThe pending acquisition is an “exciting opportunity” for wedding vendors to grow their business, said The Knot Worldwide’s CEO.
SourcingOct 19, 2026
Jewelry Design Competition Show Airs in Thailand"The Secret Gems" features eight Thai jewelry brands paired with a team of young craftspeople who create jewelry together to win challenges.
CollectionsOct 19, 2026
John Hardy Enters the Medallion Chat With Talisman Collection The brand’s “Modern Talisman” capsule collection introduces pendants inspired by the mythology, natural world, and spiritual ethos of Bali.
IndependentsOct 19, 2026
The Stories of 5 Jewelers Celebrating Their Centennials in 2026Independent jewelers from New Mexico to New Jersey answer the question: What has kept your store in business for 100 years?
SurveysOct 16, 2026
How Inflation, Gas Prices Will Affect Holiday Sales The NRF is expecting holiday sales to increase this year, but consumers and retailers alike are facing Grinch-like headwinds.
CollectionsOct 16, 2026
Christina Puchi’s Earrings Hold the UniverseOur Piece of the Week gathers the planets, represented by a variety of colored gemstones, in a pair of 14-karat yellow gold earrings.
IndependentsOct 16, 2026
Reeds Jewelers Expands, Relocates FlagshipThe New York-based jeweler is moving its Amherst flagship store to a larger location in nearby Snyder.
MajorsOct 16, 2026
Katy Chen Appointed Executive Vice President of Graff USA Chen, who worked at Cartier and Tiffany & Co., will lead retail sales and operations for the luxury jeweler’s 11 U.S. stores.
IndependentsOct 15, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Amy and Elise Greenberg For 40 years, sisters Amy and Elise Greenberg have helmed their 126-year-old family business, leading with appreciation and integrity.
ColumnistsOct 15, 2026
Peter Smith: What Is the Culture REP?It’s a term Smith coined and felt compelled to share following a bad experience with an aborted flight and an unfeeling flight attendant.
WatchesOct 15, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb’s New Movado Watches Are Made for Your Wrist StackMovado teamed up with the New York-based fine jewelry designer on a new collection of Movado Museum Velura watches.
SourcingOct 15, 2026
Signet Jewelers, Richemont May Join Bidder for De Beers, Report SaysThe two companies are reportedly in talks to join the Global Diamond Consortium, led by former De Beers CEO Gareth Penny, as per Bloomberg.
CollectionsOct 15, 2026
Wolf x Marla Aaron's New Jewelry Box Is for Some (Not All) of Your ThingsThe “Some of the Things” box follows the two larger “Everything” box designs with the look and function of antique sewing and toolboxes.
IndependentsOct 14, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Coleman and Mitchell ClarkFourth-generation jewelers Coleman and Mitchell Clark exemplify the best qualities of their predecessors: humility, modesty, and confidence.
SourcingOct 14, 2026
Manuel Marcial de Gomar, ‘The Emerald Whisperer,’ Dies at 90The gem hunter, whose 70-year career was defined by adventure and exploration, is remembered for his steadfast faith and sense of wonder.
FinancialsOct 14, 2026
LVMH’s Jewelry Brands Turn in ‘Very Good’ Performance in Q3 Tiffany & Co. continued its full-scale store renovation project while Bulgari’s high jewelry collection generated “record-breaking revenue.”
Events & AwardsOct 14, 2026
Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference Releases 2026 ProgramThis year’s sessions feature leading voices from human rights, legal, and conservation organizations.
