Monterey Park asian businesses targeted with threatening phone calls

From City News Service:

MONTEREY PARK -- Asian business owners in Monterey Park have been targeted with threatening calls in which money is demanded in exchange for supposed hostages, but no one has been harmed, police reported Thursday.
As recently as Tuesday, police received reports from business owners regarding the threatening calls, said Sgt. Frank Duke of the Monterey Park Police Department.
"These reports were similar to ones... received in the past," Duke said. "In both the current and past incidents, Asian business persons were telephoned and money was demanded for the caller's brothers."
Duke said the suspects apparently selected their targets at random using a business phone directory.
"There are no reported incidents of any of the threats being carried out or business persons paying money to the suspects," the sergeant said.
Officials urged anyone with information to contact the Monterey Park Police Department.