Tonight people living in the southwest are reacting to a pair of armed robberies, some saying it's a sign of how much their neighborhoods have changed.
Around 2:25 on Thursday morning surveillance cameras caught three men walking up to the 7-Eleven on Stockdale Highway.
Two of the men went in, while one stayed outside as a lookout.
One of the men then pulled out a handgun and took money from the cash registers, before all three ran away.
A little more than an hour later -- another 7-11 store this time on Wilson Road near Stine Road was also robbed by three men.
Again two men entered the store -- one armed with a black pistol -- while the third stood watch.
Eef Deheld lives near the Stockdale location and believes that this incident is just another sign of how the area is changing.
“It's a neighborhood that's in transition and not in a good way. A lot of it has to do with the corridor coming through and a lot of people giving up on a.their properties and then some of their businesses as well,” said Deheld.
But others like Gustavo Pena and Chris Wellman were surprised and say it will make them more aware.
“I'll probably be more on the lookout for suspicious activity or somebody doing something that they're not supposed to,” said Pena.
“People got to do what they do to survive but as far as robbing people at gun point that's just ridiculous. It's never been like that here,” said Wellman.
The three men have yet to be identified, but authorities are hoping these images will help track them down.
Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call detective Glen Davis
At (661) 326-3511 or the Bakersfield police department at (661) 327-7111.
