Jul 18, 2008 7:15 pm US/Pacific
North Sac Robbery Being Carried Out By Teens
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
Police say that teenage robbers are getting bolder and more violent. So what's causing this latest disturbing crime wave in North Sacramento?
In any language what happened to Melvin Ortega is clear.
"He stole my money," said Ortega.
Ortega, who was robbed at gunpoint in front of his apartment on Smoketree Drive, is one of the latest victims in a series of crimes in Natomas.
"And now we have more people doing it again," said Cpt. Daniel Hahn, Sacramento Police.
Police arrested some of the 12 suspects they say are involved in some of last month's home invasions and robberies in the Sacramento neighborhood, but Cpt. Hahn says the violence isn't stopping.
"Twenty years ago I don't think we would have seen this many 15, 16-year-olds -- that age range sticking guns in people's faces," said Cpt. Hahn. "But that's a reality now."
Since Wednesday night four more robberies took place in open areas and parking lots of apartment complexes within hours of each other. Cpt. Hahn says all of the robberies share a common link.
"These young people don't have something in their lives, some future that they are looking for, something that they have to lose for doing this," said Cpt. Hahn.
So far, police have made no arrests in this last incident. No home invasions have been committed in the area since last month. But more needs to be done to make these young criminals feel like they have something to lose.
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