WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Construction workers robbed, police say Hispanics targeted

Construction workers robbed, police say Hispanics targeted

(Columbia) October 14, 2006 - There has been a string of auto break-ins lately in Richland County, and police believe Hispanic workers are the targets.

Construction vehicles and building materials are scattered across a Richland County mobile home park. Officials say this is one of three spots hit by a recent wave of thefts. Someone is stealing work supplies, and the victim has always been the same race.

"It goes back about a week now," says Richland County Deputy Rafael Gonzalez. "We're starting to see a lot of Hispanics being targeted."

Hispanics like Serillo Santiago Cruz, a construction worker who woke up to an unpleasant surprise last week.

"The glass was broken, they took my machine. I hope someone returns it because it's a lot of money, too expensive," Cruz told WIS News.

Cruz lost a $6,000 spray-machine, and also had to replace his back window. Authorities say they've documented nearly a half-dozen similar cases in the last week.

"It might be another person that works in the construction business or somebody else just desperate to get their hands on machinery that they can pawn off or sell off to other subcontractors, it's easy money," said Deputy Gonzalez.

The Sheriff's Department is asking any victims of similar crimes to come forward, regardless of their legal status. To encourage Hispanic victims of crime who have questions, or are concerned about coming forward, Richland County has set up a 24-hour hotline. The number is 309-4824.

Reported by Dan Tordjman

Updated 8:58pm by Logan Smith