Friends and neighbors react to recent armed robberies
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- The city of Yakima is seeing a huge explosion in crime. According to Crimereports.com, there have been 17 robberies in Yakima in just the last 30 days. And in some cases, the suspects are escalating to holding their victims at gunpoint.
It's a crime happening almost every day lately.
"Sick that there's people out there that want to take your stuff that you work hard for," said Jared Moore, who lived on 7th Ave.
One neighborhood in particular is being hit hard. There were three armed robberies just a couple days ago-all within 48 hours and just blocks from each other. It's got families along 7th Avenue on high alert.
"Stressful nights for parent that work graveyard work-swing shift and have their kids at home. And have to worry about providing for their family, but also have to worry about protecting their kids at the same time," said neighbor Zack Scroghan.
"I just don't want to live here anymore, it scares me. I even ask him if I could sleep in his room," said Samantha Moore.
One neighbor says he's had a close call, one day he found his back door open.
"I just assumed- I came while they were in the act. They just dipped out the back because they can hop over our fence easy. I don't know. I don't like that at all. People think that they can come and do that," said Mekale Henderson another neighbor.
Police believe the three robberies are connected. The two suspects are described as thin Hispanic teenage males wearing hoodies. On Tuesday, the two men stole a woman's purse in near the Dollar Store on Nob Hill and a bike near Davis High School's soccer field. The following day, they broke into a woman's home, beat her up with a handgun, and took off with jewelry.
Irene says she can’t believe it could happen to someone so close to her.
"I knew she lived on this road, but I didn't think it was her," she said.
"So when you found out it was her, how hard was that for you?"
"It was hard, it was hard for me to keep my composure there at work and letting everyone else there at work know," said Irene.
Although the victim of the home invasion did not want to go on camera, her children, who were home at the time, tell Action News they were the ones who had dialed 911. They say it's been a traumatic experience for their mother, but that she is doing well.
It's a crime happening almost every day lately.
"Sick that there's people out there that want to take your stuff that you work hard for," said Jared Moore, who lived on 7th Ave.
One neighborhood in particular is being hit hard. There were three armed robberies just a couple days ago-all within 48 hours and just blocks from each other. It's got families along 7th Avenue on high alert.
"Stressful nights for parent that work graveyard work-swing shift and have their kids at home. And have to worry about providing for their family, but also have to worry about protecting their kids at the same time," said neighbor Zack Scroghan.
"I just don't want to live here anymore, it scares me. I even ask him if I could sleep in his room," said Samantha Moore.
One neighbor says he's had a close call, one day he found his back door open.
"I just assumed- I came while they were in the act. They just dipped out the back because they can hop over our fence easy. I don't know. I don't like that at all. People think that they can come and do that," said Mekale Henderson another neighbor.
Police believe the three robberies are connected. The two suspects are described as thin Hispanic teenage males wearing hoodies. On Tuesday, the two men stole a woman's purse in near the Dollar Store on Nob Hill and a bike near Davis High School's soccer field. The following day, they broke into a woman's home, beat her up with a handgun, and took off with jewelry.
Irene says she can’t believe it could happen to someone so close to her.
"I knew she lived on this road, but I didn't think it was her," she said.
"So when you found out it was her, how hard was that for you?"
"It was hard, it was hard for me to keep my composure there at work and letting everyone else there at work know," said Irene.
Although the victim of the home invasion did not want to go on camera, her children, who were home at the time, tell Action News they were the ones who had dialed 911. They say it's been a traumatic experience for their mother, but that she is doing well.
Keep your heads in the sand and hope it never happens to you or one you love; but the odds are against you.
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Lawlessness has become a way of life and those who still cling to the past are labeled âracist, xenophobes and bigotsâ.
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This is but one more example of the lawlessness; now pervasive in what used to be the city of Yakima.
 Now a place of refuge for those who would trample under foot the laws of this Nation.
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Once upon a time â not so long ago; Yakima was a safe and friendly place to live and raise family.
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As usual the answers will come â âa day late and a dollar shortâ.
Since the special interests didn't want to pay 1/10th of a cent tax to fund the fundamental operations of government, there will be more catch and release, but I guess that's what the public wants; more crime.Â