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Homeless problem has unincorporated El Cajon residents frustrated

EL CAJON (NEWS 8) — Residents in El Cajon are sounding the alarm on what they say are growing problems related to increased homelessness in the area. Some neighbors say they feel unsafe in their ow...

EL CAJON (NEWS 8) — Residents in El Cajon are sounding the alarm on what they say are growing problems related to increased homelessness in the area. Some neighbors say they feel unsafe in their own yards because of drug use and nearby encampments.

"This is crazy,” said homeowner Thomas Laybourne. “People should not live this way."

Laybourne lives in unincorporated El Cajon and says he and his neighbor have been sitting in their front yards with guns at night, because they feel unsafe and unprotected from homeless people who live on the mountain, just yards away from their neighborhood.

He said just Wednesday morning someone ripped the head off a bunny and left it in front of his house.

"That’s what we found,” Laybourne said. “And the guy was screaming bloody murder and cussing at my children."

Laybourne said the mountain along East County Drive and Camino Canada has been completely taken over by the homeless.

"Now you can't go up there ‘cause there are so many needles and drugs,” he said.

The 80-year-old has lived here for decades and says he was never scared until now.

He says there have been several fires near his neighborhood that have started at homeless encampments.

The whole mountain is a terror for him.

"The rock has become known as needle point [where] serious dopers live,” said Laybourne. “The marijuana group over here by this rock."

He says he can even hear people having sex and yelling “rape.”

"Children shouldn’t be hearing that stuff,” Laybourne said.

He has called the sheriff’s department, county supervisor and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Still, he says, he can't get the help he needs.

"We just gotta stop this,” said Laybourne. “If I can’t even insure my home and protect my kids, what am I supposed to do?”

The San Diego Sheriff’s Department sent News 8 the following statement on the issue:

sheriff statement

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