Despite calls for action from victims and their communities, enforcement agencies have refused to prosecute and investigate these attacks as bias (hate) crimes.

By writing off each attack as an isolated burglary, officials aren’t just failing to address the severity of the crimes. They are preventing victims from being able to access help on a federal level.

Make no mistake: these cases meet all of the criteria for a hate/bias crime as outlined by the Oregon Department of Justice. Justice cannot be served unless and until agencies publicly declare that these attacks are hate crimes.

Even after the burglary has been committed, there is another disturbing trend in these cases. When victims are brave enough to come forward, authorities blame them.

Victims may have seen these attacks play out in their communities before. If so, they likely know how Oregon agencies will respond—or rather, how they will fail to.

Based on what we know, we believe there may be targets of these attacks who have not told anyone–even friends and family.

This is the ripple effect of the inadequate response from state and local officials. Too embarrassed to speak up, victims are shaming themselves into silence.

If you or your family has been a victim one of these attacks, you are not at fault. No one should be made to feel stupid or foolish for believing their money—their property—should be safe inside of their own home.

We are asking all victims to come forward. Even if you’re not comfortable reporting, we encourage you to reach out to us and share your story privately.

Let’s work together to remove the weight of shame and place it back where it belongs: on the shoulders of these attackers and the officials who have failed us.

These attacks follow a pattern: following a string of burglaries, the attacks will suddenly stop. Weeks or months later, after the dust has settled, criminals once again reappear and target the next series of victims. This cycle has been going on for years.

We need to sound the alarm.

Share social posts, put up posters, talk with your friends and neighbors. Any action, no matter how small, could be enough to warn and protect a future victim.