A criminal group that targeted several homes of Asian victims in metro Atlanta may now be operating in Athens, according to a media report.

This week, a University of Georgia research scientist and his wife returned home to find someone had smashed out the glass in a back door, the Athens Banner-Herald reported. Four days before, another Athens couple arrived home to find a smashed back door and a ransacked house. The victims of both burglaries are Asian.

The burglaries netted thieves more than $18,000 in cash and jewelry, according to the report.

Peachtree City police Lt. Matt Meyers, whose city has had several incidents this year involving Asian victims, said he has shared information with investigators in Athens.

A link came in July, when Peachtree City arrested three suspects, one of whom had a cellphone that contained information for an Athens address, according to the report.

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