A little over a week ago I began to rapidly recieve a disturbing email message that spread across the asian community like wild fire concerning multiple robberies in southwest Houston's "Asiatown". The details were alarming describing gangs of 6 to 15 gunmen targeting popular businesses and thier customers. According to the emails some police officers were overtaken and locked into rooms, reports of multiple businesses hit in a week, each following email containing more details and alarming stories.

By the time a string of the e-mails hit Houston City Hall the list of businesses had grown to 9 places reportedly robbed. Houston's China Town was gripped with fear and it was affecting business and normal activity in the area. The problem is there was no evidence of all the stories being true.

Police officer Lilly Yep, who works the Asiatown beat, says investigations of robberies cited in the e-mails proved the email reports "bogus." "From my knowledge, it's rumors," she said. "It's a case of someone sending 15 e-mails and then each of those people sending 15 more." Yep suggested the cyber gossip might be the work of disgruntled employees.

A manager of Tan Tan at Bellaire and Ranchester, one of the purportedly robbed restaurants, said the rumors caused thier business to drop by 20 percent.

Houston police said only three restaurant robberies were reported in the area in recent months. On Jan. 7, two men robbed Thuan Kieu Com Tam located at 10792 Bellaire, targeting seven customers. The pair struck again the next day at Tau Bay at 8282 Bellaire, but later were arrested. Another robbery occurred Jan. 23 at Le Viet, a west Houston Vietnamese restaurant about three miles from the Asian business district's heart. Two gunmen robbed about 12 customers of valuables while management huddled in a cooler calling police.

In response to the growing concern and anxiety in the area, the Houston Police Department is deploying thier specialized crime prevention task force to the area of Bellaire and Beltway 8. The Asian American Real Estate Association is participating with the Greater Sharpstown Management District, City Council Members, Houston Police Department, and Community Leaders to discuss the situation and how to assist the area.