ANTIOCH (KRON) — Armed robbers are targeting students who use a popular walking trail to get to school in Antioch.
The school principal is now raising awareness about the problem.
For students living in the area surrounding Deer Valley High School in Antioch, one walking trail is a shortcut to get to school.
“It’s a big short cut,” senior Jason Berry said.
“At least 20 minutes, maybe 30,” principal Kenneth Gardner said.
However, there is problem
“We have had since May 21 two robberies that occurred over on the trail behind the community center, and we’ve had one robbery down…on the trail…by Mokelumne and Lone Tree Way where four students were robbed of their cellphones, and jewelry and etc…and their money,” Gardner said.
Gardner said his students were robbed at gunpoint.
“Handguns were used,” he said.
The principal said a lack of city resources has impacted any possible security on the trail.
“It’s one of those areas where the community has to bind together and…the police department (has) to try and make sure the trails are safe for everybody to use,” Gardner said.
Even though school has let out for the summer, there are summer sports programs and other activities on the schedule, although the trail is a shorter route to the school.
“We just want the community and the parents and students to be aware that it is not safe,” Gardner said.