CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV)— The Chula Vista Police department is investigating a home invasion robbery that happened Saturday night on the 1600 block of Claret Cup Drive.
80-year-old Don Oder believes he may have had an encounter with one of the suspects.
He told 10News he was unloading the bags from his late night shopping trip Saturday and saw a man walk into his garage.
“He says 'I’m thirsty. Can I have some water?' So I got him a glass of water,” Oder said.
That was around 10:30 p.m. at Oder's home near Camarena Elementary School.
At the time, Oder did not know that the person who asked for water could have been a suspect in a home invasion robbery that happened moments prior.
“I didn’t put two and two together right away,” Oder said.
Chula Vista Police said someone fired a gun at a nearby condo on Claret Cup Drive around the same time.
Two people entered and robbed the residents, then ran east. No one was hurt.
Looking back now, Oder believes one of suspects may have been the man hiding in his garage.
“Pretty obvious that he didn’t want to be seen,” Oder said.
Oder describes him as a young, built, clean-cut man.
He was surprised at the man’s get-away car.
“He said, I’ve called an Uber and it’s going to be here in a few minutes.”
Oder stayed with him for a few minutes until the man suddenly ran.
Moments later, he and his grandson called police. The next morning, Oder’s son Tim was walking toward the crime scene.
Tim Oder said he found a bundle of stuff next to a car along Exploration Falls Drive.
“I pulled a hat out, walked a little further, and then I started pulling some gloves, and I thought, oh my God, these are white latex gloves!” Tim Oder said.
The water cup and the bundle of items are now with Chula Vista Police, being processed for evidence.
The Oders said the fact that one family had two run-ins with an unusual crime in a safe neighborhood is a crazy coincidence.
“It seemed so strange, you know?” Oder said.
Chula Vista Police said the suspects are still at large and asked the community to be vigilant.
