Insights from Asian American Public Safety Forum: Tackling Targeted Burglaries in Eugene
EUGENE, Ore. — On October 23, 2025, the Asian American Council of Oregon (AACO) hosted a public safety forum at the Korean Presbyterian Church (1600 Taney St.), drawing a packed crowd of community members, business owners, local media, and advocates to address the ongoing wave of burglaries targeting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) households. The event featured a panel of law enforcement and prosecutorial leaders, including Eugene Police Chief Chris Skinner, Lane County District Attorney Chris Parosa, Springfield Police Chief Jami Resch, and Oregon Department of Justice Bias Crime Prosecutor Gavin Bruce. The discussion focused on the "Skyline Seven" arrests and the broader patterns plaguing the region, emphasizing collaboration amid rising community concerns.
Investigators have linked approximately 22 burglaries in Eugene since late 2023 to a highly organized ring of foreign nationals, with similar incidents reported across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and other states across the country. These crimes typically occur during daylight hours while victims are at work, targeting AAPI business owners and professionals believed to store cash, jewelry, safes, and high-end valuables at home. Suspects employ sophisticated tactics, including extensive surveillance (such as posing as delivery drivers), rear-entry break-ins, and signal jammers to disable WiFi- or cellular-dependent security systems like cameras and alarms. This level of premeditation distinguishes the operation from opportunistic thefts, suggesting a profit-driven model rather than random or hate-motivated acts, though the racial profiling element qualifies them as potential bias crimes under state law.
Panelists described the ring as a "highly coordinated organized crime organization" with multi-state reach, where low-level perpetrators serve as disposable "tools" for higher-level operators who fund and direct the efforts. By striking empty homes, the burglars avoid escalated charges like robbery, which require confrontation. In Oregon, first-degree burglary convictions for first-time offenders, common among these foreign nationals with no searchable criminal history, often result in time served plus three or four years of probation, per state sentencing guidelines. This leniency, combined with pretrial releases under Senate Bill 48, creates incentives for flight: Of the Skyline Seven arrested on October 10th, six were released on bail and immediately detained by ICE, while the seventh remains in custody. Even ICE holds may lead to deportation, followed by re-entry under false identities for new assignments elsewhere, perpetuating the cycle.
The forum highlighted federal-local barriers in a sanctuary state like Oregon (ORS 181A.820), which prohibits local agencies from assisting ICE or DHS. While EPD has consulted the FBI on interstate elements, given the ring's possible national scope, cases remain prosecuted as state-level crimes, limiting resources against what may be cartel-level coordination. DA Parosa noted discussions with Sen. Floyd Prozanski for legislative fixes to enhance detention options for flight risks, underscoring the need for policy changes to level the playing field.
A stark example of systemic flaws emerged in the 2021 case of Andrew Paul Geronimi, a fugitive who evaded identification despite multiple fingerprint scans. Arrested in January 2021 in Norway, Michigan, for a domestic violence hostage situation (charged with unlawful imprisonment and felonious assault), Geronimi posted $15,000 bond in March and skipped a May court date, prompting a bench warrant. He surfaced in Oregon under aliases: first in Linn County for trespassing (processed and released as Frederick Paul Johnson), then in Lane County using yet another false name, George Michael Smith (charged with false information under the Frederick Paul Johnson identity). His true identity was only confirmed after an August 2021 murder arrest in Pleasant Hill, where he faced first-degree murder, assault, and burglary charges. This incident, detailed in court records and local reports, illustrates fingerprint databases' vulnerabilities to aliases and interstate gaps, issues echoed in the Skyline Seven, where several suspects had amended names (one up to three times).
Despite these challenges, panelists stressed community action. Recent incidents, including on October 22, show the ring's resilience post-arrests. Practical protections include:
Investigators have linked approximately 22 burglaries in Eugene since late 2023 to a highly organized ring of foreign nationals, with similar incidents reported across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and other states across the country. These crimes typically occur during daylight hours while victims are at work, targeting AAPI business owners and professionals believed to store cash, jewelry, safes, and high-end valuables at home. Suspects employ sophisticated tactics, including extensive surveillance (such as posing as delivery drivers), rear-entry break-ins, and signal jammers to disable WiFi- or cellular-dependent security systems like cameras and alarms. This level of premeditation distinguishes the operation from opportunistic thefts, suggesting a profit-driven model rather than random or hate-motivated acts, though the racial profiling element qualifies them as potential bias crimes under state law.
Panelists described the ring as a "highly coordinated organized crime organization" with multi-state reach, where low-level perpetrators serve as disposable "tools" for higher-level operators who fund and direct the efforts. By striking empty homes, the burglars avoid escalated charges like robbery, which require confrontation. In Oregon, first-degree burglary convictions for first-time offenders, common among these foreign nationals with no searchable criminal history, often result in time served plus three or four years of probation, per state sentencing guidelines. This leniency, combined with pretrial releases under Senate Bill 48, creates incentives for flight: Of the Skyline Seven arrested on October 10th, six were released on bail and immediately detained by ICE, while the seventh remains in custody. Even ICE holds may lead to deportation, followed by re-entry under false identities for new assignments elsewhere, perpetuating the cycle.
The forum highlighted federal-local barriers in a sanctuary state like Oregon (ORS 181A.820), which prohibits local agencies from assisting ICE or DHS. While EPD has consulted the FBI on interstate elements, given the ring's possible national scope, cases remain prosecuted as state-level crimes, limiting resources against what may be cartel-level coordination. DA Parosa noted discussions with Sen. Floyd Prozanski for legislative fixes to enhance detention options for flight risks, underscoring the need for policy changes to level the playing field.
Chief Skinner briefly addressed the now-deactivated ALPR/Flock camera system in Eugene, highlighting its role as a key tool employed by the Eugene Police Department to apprehend the Skyline Seven. He noted that this technology played a significant part in identifying and tracking the suspects before their arrests.
A stark example of systemic flaws emerged in the 2021 case of Andrew Paul Geronimi, a fugitive who evaded identification despite multiple fingerprint scans. Arrested in January 2021 in Norway, Michigan, for a domestic violence hostage situation (charged with unlawful imprisonment and felonious assault), Geronimi posted $15,000 bond in March and skipped a May court date, prompting a bench warrant. He surfaced in Oregon under aliases: first in Linn County for trespassing (processed and released as Frederick Paul Johnson), then in Lane County using yet another false name, George Michael Smith (charged with false information under the Frederick Paul Johnson identity). His true identity was only confirmed after an August 2021 murder arrest in Pleasant Hill, where he faced first-degree murder, assault, and burglary charges. This incident, detailed in court records and local reports, illustrates fingerprint databases' vulnerabilities to aliases and interstate gaps, issues echoed in the Skyline Seven, where several suspects had amended names (one up to three times).
Despite these challenges, panelists stressed community action. Recent incidents, including on October 22, show the ring's resilience post-arrests. Practical protections include:
- Storing valuables in bank safety deposit boxes to minimize losses.
- Upgrading to hardwired security systems immune to jammers, with real-time neighbor notifications.
- Varying routines where possible, though difficult for business owners; timed lights offer limited deterrence given daytime timing.
- Reporting suspicions promptly and sharing Ring camera footage from adjacent properties, as victim systems are often jammed.
Michael Weber, known for his extensive coverage of crime news in Lane County, continues to provide valuable updates to the local community. He runs the largest crime watch group in Lane County, Lane County Mugshots Uncensored, which currently has over 88,500 members. Support for local journalism is essential, and donations can be made via Venmo to @Michael-Weber-379 (last four digits of phone number: 0825).
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