Northside Fort Wayne residents are on alert tonight, after two muggings this weekend.
Police say the crimes are connected.
Now neighbors are looking for ways to protect themselves.
Joseph Fischer lives on Laverne Avenue and jogs daily.
Saturday, another jogger was mugged on this street.
"I'm sure the whole neighborhood is out and alert now, and hopefully they'll find these guys," Fischer says.
Police say the jogger saw a dark colored SUV parked just before eight.
Three men got out, pointed a gun at him- demanding cash.
He had none, and they fled.
"It is, it's frightening. I don't want guns around my baby," Cheryl Regnier says.
Two hours later on Delaware Avenue, a woman was walking her dog alone.
Three men in a dark SUV pulled a gun and stole her purse.
Police say it was the same suspects.
"They were similar descriptions. Three male suspects, three adult males. The vehicle description is really what stood out. And that was a dark colored sport utility vehicle, possibly a Chevy Trailblazer," Fort Wayne Police Department spokesperson Raquel Foster says.
Residents say this is unusual for their neighborhood.
"It kind of happened in the evening. It worries me just a little bit. You know, what's next, our houses?" Fischer says.
"Usually out here is pretty good neighborhood. This is the first time we've ever really heard of anything like this," Alejandro Soto says.
And now, they're looking to keep it from happening again.
"I guess I'll talk to my husband about what we can do, you know? It's kind of frightening," Reigner says.
"We'll have the dogs out more. We have a few dogs, and we have some personal firearms, and they'll be ready to go," Fischer says.
WFFT asked Fort Wayne police that question today--
What is the best way to protect yourself from being robbed?
The number one thing- pay attention.
They say it's important to make sure if you're out in the evening--
Don't be alone.
Chose safety items- like a whistle-to alert people if you're in trouble.
And never challenge anyone with a gun--
Give them what they want.
And not just if you're outside- even if you're at home.
Police say during the first mugging, the attackers tried to get the first victim to knock on a neighbor's door, and he refused.
What saved the two mugging victims today is they looked for suspicious activity.
They noticed the car-- and that is was unusual-- and took notes.
"What you need to be looking for is suspicious activity. You know when suspicious activity is taking place in your neighborhood. You know better than anyone else, because you live there. So if it's suspicious to you, then you should be taking notes," Foster says.
Police say if you do see anything suspicious, don't wait a few hours, contact them immediately.
Police say the crimes are connected.
Now neighbors are looking for ways to protect themselves.
Joseph Fischer lives on Laverne Avenue and jogs daily.
Saturday, another jogger was mugged on this street.
"I'm sure the whole neighborhood is out and alert now, and hopefully they'll find these guys," Fischer says.
Police say the jogger saw a dark colored SUV parked just before eight.
Three men got out, pointed a gun at him- demanding cash.
He had none, and they fled.
"It is, it's frightening. I don't want guns around my baby," Cheryl Regnier says.
Two hours later on Delaware Avenue, a woman was walking her dog alone.
Three men in a dark SUV pulled a gun and stole her purse.
Police say it was the same suspects.
"They were similar descriptions. Three male suspects, three adult males. The vehicle description is really what stood out. And that was a dark colored sport utility vehicle, possibly a Chevy Trailblazer," Fort Wayne Police Department spokesperson Raquel Foster says.
Residents say this is unusual for their neighborhood.
"It kind of happened in the evening. It worries me just a little bit. You know, what's next, our houses?" Fischer says.
"Usually out here is pretty good neighborhood. This is the first time we've ever really heard of anything like this," Alejandro Soto says.
And now, they're looking to keep it from happening again.
"I guess I'll talk to my husband about what we can do, you know? It's kind of frightening," Reigner says.
"We'll have the dogs out more. We have a few dogs, and we have some personal firearms, and they'll be ready to go," Fischer says.
WFFT asked Fort Wayne police that question today--
What is the best way to protect yourself from being robbed?
The number one thing- pay attention.
They say it's important to make sure if you're out in the evening--
Don't be alone.
Chose safety items- like a whistle-to alert people if you're in trouble.
And never challenge anyone with a gun--
Give them what they want.
And not just if you're outside- even if you're at home.
Police say during the first mugging, the attackers tried to get the first victim to knock on a neighbor's door, and he refused.
What saved the two mugging victims today is they looked for suspicious activity.
They noticed the car-- and that is was unusual-- and took notes.
"What you need to be looking for is suspicious activity. You know when suspicious activity is taking place in your neighborhood. You know better than anyone else, because you live there. So if it's suspicious to you, then you should be taking notes," Foster says.
Police say if you do see anything suspicious, don't wait a few hours, contact them immediately.
