A disturbing crime trend in a south valley neighborhood; four people attacked and robbed in one week. The latest incident happened early Monday morning on 11th and 3rd streets in Hanford. Last week two victims were hit near Scott and Phillips and another was on 3rd and Irwin.
Hanford police are putting extra patrols in the area, but they need more information on the suspects to make arrests.
The victim who was attacked on Monday was walking to work. He told police he was punched and kicked in the face and the suspects took his lunch. It's a major concern for police since four people have been recently attacked.
"We suspect that it could be the same group of individuals. In each case the descriptions were three to four African-American males," said Lt. George Hernandez of the Hanford Police Department.
Last week two people were robbed near the Quick Shop Market, a 28-year-old woman and a 70-year-old man. Eva Perez lives just across the street and says some people are living in fear.
"They're kinda scared of the people that hang out in front [of the store.] Some of them have been attacked and their money took. They work hard for it," said Perez.
While are cameras are there, a group of teens loiter outside, making themselves known in the neighborhood. Eventually the shop manager calls police. Officers show up and talk to some of the individuals. Perez says it's like this every day, but it has gotten worse since school let out for summer.
"They know [not to] go in the yard 'cause I'm calling the law. They call me 'snitch' and everything and I don't care," said Perez.
The fourth attack was on a man who had a mobile snow cone cart. One person, who did not want his identity known, says he does everything he can to stay out of all the trouble.
"I go to work, try to stay out of here, go to the nicer parts of town and stay inside," said the teenager.
Police are telling people not to walk alone, especially when it gets dark outside.
