Holiday season sees more crime, five robbed at gun point in same day
Posted: Dec 13, 2011 6:05 AM EDT | Updated: Nov 6, 2014 2:47 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- On Sunday there were five armed robberies in South Bend and police say the holdiay season is to blame for rise in crime.
The violent day started just after midnight. At 12:15 a.m. a victim was robbed in the 2000 Block of East Ireland Road.
Just 20 minutes later, another person was robbed at gun point in the 1600 Block of West Linden Avenue.
Around 3:30 p.m. police were called to Corby Homes on Patty Lane after a man was shot once in the face and leg for not turning over his money to the gunman.
At 6:20 p.m. another victim was held up by in the 1100 Block of North Huey Street.
Then, just six minutes later, another armed robbery in the 200 Block of North Sycamore Street.
Now, it has police working over-time just to keep up with the paperwork. Even though police have increased patrols in certain areas, officials say there is always a spike in crime during the Holidays.
"It just seems that the up tick always occurs around Thanksgiving and goes through to the end of the year," says Capt. Scott Ruszkowski with South Bend Police Department.
Police says armed robberies, home invasions, auto thefts and car break-ins are just some of the crimes that increase during the holiday season. So, to handle the increase, police are working long hours just to keep up.
"Obviously it is a very dangerous situation with an enormous amount of paperwork, evidence collection and things like that involved in a report. We are talking several hours, with several officers," says Ruszkowski.
Three of Sunday's armed robberies happened on the city's West side. For months,police have stepped up patrol, but say it doesn't stop there.
"We have strategic placements all over the city and we do that every year and it's not specific to businesses, its residences as well," Ruszkowski.
Police say this is the time to stay vigilant and have asked the community to report anything suspicious to police immediately.