Man arrested in 13 robbery, burglary cases targeting Houston-area Asian community

>>Take a look at some of the other recent crime sprees in the Houston area... less Derrick Mondell Rogers, 41, is a suspect in more than a dozen burglary and robbery cases that targeted the Asian community in Harris and Fort Bend counties. >>Take a look at some of the other recent crime ... more Derrick Mondell Rogers, 41, is a suspect in more than a dozen burglary and robbery cases that targeted the Asian community in Harris and Fort Bend counties. Photo: Houston Police Department Photo: Houston Police Department Image 1 of / 23 Caption Close Man arrested in 13 robbery, burglary cases targeting Houston-area Asian community 1 / 23 Back to Gallery

The attacker had a specific type of victim: Asians, primarily women, many who lived in a community west of Houston's Chinatown.

For more than a year, he stalked them, sometimes for days, before stealing their jewelry, high-end purses, and large amounts of money, according to the Houston Police Department. Some of the incidents were violent, as when he allegedly bound a victim and threatened her with a gun at her home.

On Tuesday, police said a man, who was already in jail on an unrelated charge, was responsible for the attacks. Derrick Mondell Rogers, 41, faces a slew of charges related to 13 cases dating from June 2017 to September, police said. The burglaries and robberies took place in Houston, Harris County and Fort Bend County.

At a news conference Tuesday, Detective Tyrus Fontenot described some of the attacks, including one incident during late July, when a man approached a woman as she arrived at her home in the 7000 block of Leaders Crossing around 9:55 p.m and pointed a handgun to her head.

Fontenot said the attacker threatened to shoot her if she did not give him money. He zipped tied her wrists and ankles, duct taped her mouth, hit her with his knee and choked her before stealing her wallet and a few checkbooks from her purse.

This incident was captured on the victim's home surveillance camera. The video was released to the public in September and authorities were then able to identify Rogers, detectives said.

The same attacker, authorities said, targeted the same house three times over a five-month period. The first two times, he broke into the home when no one was there. The third time, someone was.

In that incident, detectives said he struck a woman in the head with a brick and then bound her with duct tape before robbing her.

Detectives said they do not know why he targeted Asian women, but that it could be because the suspect might have found them to be easy targets.

DEADLY CONSEQUENCES: Armed robberies take a tragic toll on Houston families

Officers recovered Rogers’ vehicle, two handguns and large amount of stolen property from robberies and burglaries, according to the police department.

Rogers faces aggravated assault of family member, burglary of habitation, robbery with bodily injury and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, police said.

At HoustonChronicle.com: Asian population growth spurs suburban Chinatown in Katy

Officers also believe there might be more robberies. Anyone with information should contact the HPD robbery division at 713-308-0700.

Here are the burglaries and robberies Rogers is accused of committing:

Sept. 24 - robbery, 9400 block Coventry Square Drive

Sept. 23 - family violence/assault, 9400 block Coventry Square Drive

Sept. 15 - robbery, 12300 block Longbrook

Sept. 8 - robbery, 3500 block Beech Ridge Lane (Harris County)

Sept. 1 - burglary, 13500 block Bonilla Lane (Harris County)

Aug 30 - robbery, 13100 block Woodvine Trail

Aug. 25 - burglary, 12500 block Ashling Drive

July 31 - robbery, 7000 block Leaders Crossing Drive

July 12 - burglary, 13100 block Woodvine Trail

May 20 - burglary, 2900 block Walnut Bend Lane

March 25 - burglary, 13100 block Woodvine Trail

June 6, 2017 - burglary, 12500 block Bear Valley Drive

The attacks were just west of Houston's Chinatown community, where neighborhood leaders last year were dealing with an epidemic of robberies and burglaries. Local law enforcement leaders, including Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, met with more than 300 people in the Chinese Community Center's gymnasium.

At the time, police warned residents of an uptick in "jugging," where thieves steal valuables from a car, and "sliding," where they steal a purse or other items from a vehicle when the occupant is fueling.

Ogg said then that her office was committed to trying to stop robberies in Chinatown as well as across the county. Chinatown is centered generally east of the Sam Houston Tollway and north of Beechnut.

"Those groups also target people in international communities because they are counting on the fear in those communities of the police," Ogg said. "That fear is unjustified. Police are here to respond to crimes, and prosecutors are available to work with them to prosecute those perpetrators."

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