CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) - Frustrated Chula Vista residents on the city’s eastern side are taking matters into their own hands when it comes to combating crime.
Several residents have expressed fear and anger on a number of social media threads about what appears to be a growing amount of crime.
“On my street, I can tell you that it’s been getting worse,” said Chula Vista resident Antonio Kavaldjian.
Kavaldjian recently conducted a Facebook live while driving around Eastlake while Chula Vista Police searched for four young men involved in a chase. Police believe the four may have been involved in a Chula Vista burglary earlier in the day.
The chase ended when the car driven by the four teens crashed and they took off running. Police found a shotgun and a live rabbit in the car but did not find the occupants. A police spokesman said they know who the four are but need to track them down.
“I really want to see the cops catch them live, to be honest, that’s how fed up I was,” said Kavaldjian. “I’m getting second thoughts about living out here because of the increase in crime that we’ve been having.”
A couple of neighbors even went as far as starting a GoFundMe page to raise money for a reward to apprehend any of the four teenagers. They gave up after realizing Crime Stoppers already offers rewards.
“I don’t think the GoFundMe was going to solve our problem. If they know who they are they’re going to get them regardless,” said Kavaldjian.
Kavaldjian said he’s adding cameras, updating his security system, and purchasing weapons.
“I’m frustrated because now I’m starting to think it’s just a matter of when are they going to break into my house,” he said.
In the meantime, crime statistics used by the city and police department do not indicate a spike in crime.
Kavaldjian said the best thing he and his neighbors can do is look out for each other’s safety.
