Cathedral City Parents Worry About Juvenile Crime

Cathedral City — Jennifer Huggins and her husband were driving home last Friday night when someone shot out their car window with a bb gun.

Police told her it’s most likely kids.

And on Monday, at least 2 teenagers vandalized her daughter’s elementary school.

Huggins says something needs to be done to keep kids out of trouble when they’re not in class.

“I definitely think there should be more options offered whether community based or after school programs but the funding is not there,” says Huggins.

Big budget deficits are forcing cities around the valley to make tough calls.

It’s also forcing after school programs to look at alternative sources of income, at the same time keeping their programs affordable.

Jose Soto is Director of Operations at the Boys and Girls Club in Cathedral City.

He says there’s enough to do it’s just getting the word out that’s the hardest part.

“Once the parents are informed and educated on what we do here it becomes, ‘Oh, why didn’t I know about this sooner,'” says Soto.

Cathedral City Police arrested 172 juveniles last year, mostly for misdemeanors.

Police say there’s plenty of after school programs to help keep kids busy.

Some are offered by the district, as well as the Boys and Girls Club and AYSO soccer.

“It does tend to occur when school is out and there’s no actual parental supervision or other type of adult supervision,” says Lt. Charles Robinson with the Cathedral City Police Department.

Time is money.

And Huggins hope the price to keep kids busy isn’t too much.

“These are middle school kids committing these crimes in a few years these are going to be 18 years old kids out doing worse things,” says Huggins.