Neighbors react after woman robbed at gunpoint in Niles

NILES, Mich. --- Neighbors and police are searching for answers after an armed robbery at Berrien Woods apartment complex early Monday morning.

A woman was allegedly robbed at gunpoint less than a quarter mile from the Niles Police Department just around 4:10 a.m. as she left for work.

While the complex is located in close proximity to the police department, Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Niles Township Patrols responds to calls for service.

72 calls for service have been made to Berrien Woods complex since January 1, 2021, according to the sheriff’s office. In 2020, there were 231 calls for service. In 2019, there were 180 calls for service.

Some neighbors told ABC57 that the crime and violence does not come as a surprise, while others could not believe it happened in their own backyard.

“That’s just crazy, like, yeah, especially when the kids are out here, you know what I’m saying, like we got people everywhere,” Resident Darius Nickens said. “And like, it’s just crazy to me like, you can’t just do that when you got kids out here.”

Nickens worried crime and violence in the neighborhood could leave a lasting impact on young children.

“It makes me sick,” one resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said. “Because we’re not, you know, we don’t have any safety here. Our children aren’t safe, and they’re not doing enough to keep us safe.”

The resident said this incident does not come as a surprise.

“My car was broken into twice in less than a month, which made me feel really violated,” she said. “And when I notified the office, they said there’s nothing we can do about it.”

She said the incident happened right when she would normally be coming home, and as a mother she said she fears for her children.

“It makes me very terrified for them,” she said. “I don’t, I don’t let them play outside because its just not safe. It’s scary here. It’s really scary. And I’m really scared for these kids that are outside playing because anything can happen and we’re never going to know unless the other residents speak up.”

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office said the incident appears to be isolated and there are no further updates at this time.

If you know anything about what happened, contact police right away.