Caught on camera: Cars broken into in gated community on Jacksonville’s Southside, neighbors say

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — One neighborhood on Jacksonville’s Southside is on high alert after several cars were broken into.

Luckily for the people who live there, it was all caught on several home security cameras in the gated community.

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One neighbor, Todd Arnold, showed Action News Jax the video captured by his security cameras.

“How bold of them to think they’re not being seen on cameras,” he said.

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Those who live in Ironwood, which is just north of J. Turner Butler Boulevard, say they are baffled after capturing five people on camera going through cars.

“They’re thinking, ‘I’m gonna try a few doors,’ and they get lucky sometimes. Sometimes they even break glass to find nothing sometimes, and sometimes people do leave valuables in their car,” Arnold said.

Several neighbors captured video on home security cameras of people going from home to home. Arnold noted sometimes being in a gated area gives people a false sense of security.

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“People think a gated community keeps you from everything,” Arnold said.

Arnold said he’s had security cameras for 15 years, despite living in what he considers a safe neighborhood.

“It’s not the case at all. It’s actually going to be usually a nicer neighborhood that people wanna go into, so they are going to find a way into it,” he said.

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But neighbors’ biggest concern what was being stolen. While they fear it’s the usual big ticket items, Arnold said, “that’s the scary thing. They’re probably looking for guns. They’re probably looking for hard-core things like the keys to the car.”

People who had things stolen from them said one item was in demand: “Some of my neighbors told me they just had their garage door remote stolen. That was the majority of the theft,” Arnold said.

Not everyone has had the issue. One neighbor told Action News Jax he always parks in the driveway and has never seen anyone.

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“I haven’t had any issues, damage, was being broken into or getting anything taken out of my car,” Briggs Kirby said.

Arnold has one message for the people in the footage:

“They’re just bored looking for a stupid hobby breaking into cars. Find something better to do,” he said.

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