Created: 7/10/2009 4:01:00 PM 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The Ortega area is known for its nice homes, and its peace and quiet. But those who live here say that is all gone now. "
Mary has lived in Ortega for more than 25 years. Some of her neighbors just became victims of a violent crime. "The woman went in to take her groceries in. She came back out and her husband had a gun pointed to his head. The other guy stuck a gun in her face," says Mary.
The armed robbery happened a week ago off Shirley Drive in Fairfax Manor.
This week, there was another one. This time it was in a different neighborhood off Ortega Forest Drive. But it was the same situation with two guys doing the robbing and armed with sawed off shotguns.
"These aren't petty crimes anymore. People are being held up with sawed off shotguns," says Marshall Butler, who lives in Fairfax Manor.The word is spreading fast with emails. In fact, one of the victims sent out an email to her neighbors warning them to be careful.
The neighborhood associations have also sent alerts too. Then there is the chatter that can be found on Facebook.
Those who live in the area are alerting everyone to pay attention. "Most people believe they were followed," says Butler.
Butler says in both robberies the victims had just left the Roosevelt Mall area and Publix and were unloading groceries from their cars.
Publix told First Coast News it can't comment about an investigation, but confirms it is working with JSO. The grocery chain says safety in and outside the store is most important to them.
"People are mad because this shouldn't happen," says Butler. He says neighbors want some answers from police. "I think it's a trend, a wave and people need to know to be careful."
They say they want their streets patrolled regularly. Mary has already starting patrolling on her own. "I'm much more aware of things that go on."
Friday afternoon, residents received an email from their neighborhood associations that JSO and Sheriff John Rutherford will talk to neighbors in an emergency meeting Monday night at 7 at Ortega United Methodist Church.
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