STOCKTON, Calif. – Tension is palpable in the Fox Creek neighborhood after a 70-year-old woman fell victim to a brazen robbery in broad daylight, sending shock waves through this typically peaceful community.
The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday near the intersection of Sandalwood and Caywood Drive. Stockton police reported that a man and a woman, both believed to be in their thirties, approached the elderly woman, pushed her, and then forcibly took her possessions.
Local residents are reeling from the audacity of the crime. Gulita Woollard, who lives just feet from the scene, expressed her disbelief. "I'm scared," Woollard said. "I've never heard of something like that happening over here."
Debbie Pittman, another neighbor, echoed Woollard's sentiments, stressing the rarity of such incidents in their neighborhood. "It's kind of scary because this neighborhood is really good," Pittman explained. "I pretty much look out for myself. When I come out, I check both ways and you know, I'm pretty safe."
In response to the increasing concerns about safety, residents like Woollard are taking extra precautions. "At least you have something to hit them with," said Woollard, who no longer goes for walks without carrying a long stick.
Stockton police are urging the community to remain vigilant. They recommend that residents keep their eyes forward and head up, remove expensive jewelry before going out, and inform someone they trust about their whereabouts.
As the neighborhood tries to come to terms with the unsettling event, the hope is that the frequent traffic along Sandalwood Drive will help deter future crimes. However, the fear of violence looms large. "It's terrible for that to happen in this nice neighborhood here," Pittman remarked.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the suspects or the incident to contact the Stockton Police Department at 209-937-8495. Community members are encouraged to come forward as the investigation continues, aiming to restore peace and safety to Fox Creek.
