JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A man is recovering after reportedly trying to take justice into his own hands on Jacksonville's Northwest side.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, around 4 a.m. officers were dispatched to 10800 Campus Heights Lane. Upon arrival, JSO says they located a man shot twice in lower the extremities.
He was taken to UF Health in stable condition. The suspects reportedly fled the scene.
Upon further investigation, JSO says that the incident had to do with a series of car burglaries.
Police say the victim in this investigation decided to take it upon himself to try to apprehend the burglars after his car was broken into.
Police say he went a few blocks up the road from his home and hid. The man waited to reveal himself when he spotted the suspected burglars and, during a confrontation, the man was shot twice.
JSO says that it appears there are multiple car burglaries associated with this case and are askng anyone living in the area to contact them if they discover that they too were a victim.
This serves as an example of what not to do, said police, they say whenever a crime is suspected to call them first before acting on your own.
Additionally, JSO says it helps reinforce the routine of locking your vehicles at 9 p.m. each night.
"It's also a great example of why we want the 9 PM routine followed, from my understanding so far, almost all of the cars had been unlocked," said JSO during the news conference.
“I'm grateful and I'm blessed to know that neither one of those bullets flew through my home to hit myself or my three children," said Collana Underwood who also lives in the North Campus neighborhood.
Underwood is a mother of six and currently her and her three children have been living in the neighborhood for two years. Her son’s car was also broken into this morning.
“Not only was the vehicle entered into but the suspects left behind sneakers and shirts," said Underwood.
Underwood says her son’s car doors were locked and nothing was stolen and his valuables were in the house while the car break ins were occurring.
“It’s not a good spot to commit these crimes because little do, they know there are cameras that record each entrance," said Underwood.
First Coast News reached out to the homeowner's association who says security is not a budgeted item since 2018, and the approved budget for this year has been made available to all members in the community.
Police are describing the suspects as young teens. There could be two or more. If you have any information you are asked to call JSO at 904-630-0500.