The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of suspects in a series of robberies in Delaware County, this summer, targeting Asian business owners.

KYW’s Pat Loeb reports the recent crime wave mirrors a series of robberies that plagued the county two years ago.

Delaware County and federal authorities tried to reassure Asian business owners that they’re determined to catch the criminals behind a series of robberies since June in which Asian business owners have been robbed in their homes.

Assistant US attorney Robert Reed says a similar crime wave two years ago offers clues to the thinking behind this crime spree.:

“There was a perception that they carried money from their business to their homes and that because of language barriers that Asian business owners would not cooperate with police.”

Reed says that last assumption was wrong. The 2008 robberies ended when 8 suspects were arrested. A federal judge just sentenced one of them to 9 years in prison, in part because he chose his victims based on race.