Residents concerned about string of robbery attempts

Deepa Bharath

Residents of a serene neighborhood in this ocean-side community said

they were shocked by an attempted robbery that happened a few feet

from their homes.

A 40-year-old woman was attacked when she pulled into her garage

on Wednesday afternoon, but managed to fight off the intruder and

foiled his attempt to rob her, police said.

This is the third incident in a string of similar attacks in the

city. On June 10, an 85-year-old woman was pushed to the ground and

robbed in the garage of her Dover Shores home, and another

55-year-old Lido Isle woman was hit on the head and robbed in her

driveway.

All three incidents occurred in the afternoon. All three victims

were wearing expensive jewelry, police said. No arrests have been

made in any of the cases yet.

The latest incident occurred in the 700 block of Narcissus Avenue,

a quiet street whose silence is broken only by chirping birds and

passing vehicles. Houses, many with picket fences, line both sides of

the street.

Police said the victim’s child was in the car when she was

attacked.

Neighbor Stephanie Wallace said she would probably have put up a

fight if her child was in any kind of danger.

“I can understand why she fought back,” she said. “It was her

maternal instinct to protect her child.”

Wallace said she believes the incident is “unfortunate, saddening

and disconcerting.”

“It made a big difference that she fought back,” she said. “I

think she’s a brave, strong and courageous woman for doing what she

did.”

Wallace said it is natural for people in the neighborhood who are

used to feeling safe to develop “a new sense of insecurity.”

“But ours is a small, close-knit neighborhood, and we look out for

each other here,” she said.

Nancy Phelps, who has lived on that street for 52 years, said she

is shocked by the incident, but is “not too worried about it.”

“I’m aware of my surroundings and I take precautions,” she said.

“But you can’t protect yourself against everything.”

Leslie Trush said she saw the entire incident unfold Wednesday

afternoon.

“My concern right away was if someone was hurt,” she said. “It was

scary, especially in a neighborhood with children where we all like

to come and sit outside. We have an open sense of community.”

All the same, the incident will not stop her from leading her

normal life, Trush said.

“I’m not living in fear because of this incident,” she said. “It’s

not going to stop me from coming outside.”