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Jacksonville police issue crime alert after armed robberies, sexual assaults in neighborhood

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said one man has been linked to multiple sex assaults and robberies.  Officers said he used dating apps and social networks to target his victims.

JSO issued a crime alert for the Westside- where the attacks happened- Friday evening.

“I feel like that’s very dangerous,” said Adira Norwood.  “I feel like he should go to jail.”

Norwood’s family would do anything to protect the bright 10-year-old.

“I’m concerned about her safety,” said her grandfather, Lester Walker.  “I don’t want nothing to happen to her.”

This family lives near South Lane and Manotak Avenues, the area mentioned by JSO in the crime alert.

An Action News Jax photographer captured police patrolling near the intersection Friday night.

Investigators said there have been four armed robberies in the area since March and two sexual assaults so far in May.

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“For them to be going around sexually assaulting people and being a female, yes, I have very [many] concerns, especially for my mother and grandmother who live in this neighborhood,” said Adira’s aunt, Ylondia Howard.

Officers only have a vague description of the man they believe is doing this but said all the victims described a similar man.

They said he engages people on social networks and dating apps to lure them in.

“I think it’s sad,” Howard said.  “I think whoever’s doing it, the community needs to come together and have them prosecuted.”

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