SOUTH BEND — A northeast side neighborhood is on edge over a shocking armed robbery that involved a small child used as a decoy to help break in to a South Bend home. Police say the child knocked on the door, and asked the man inside for help raising money for his church.

As the homeowner opened the door wider, investigators say two men burst inside, holding the man at gunpoint and demanding money.

Details of the crime, which happened late Tuesday afternoon, had people living nearby both angry and on edge this week.

Judy James, who has spent the last 40 years living less than a block away from the home where the robbery is alleged to have occurred says she's been fighting for years now to save her neighborhood.

"Crime, burglaries, not upkeep," she said, when asked what the scene along Corby Boulevard now looks like. "There's a lot of empty homes. At 5 o'clock, I turn my alarm on. I'm a prisoner after 5pm until I get up in the morning."

That feeling hit even closer to home, when her neighbor in the 1300 block of East Corby got a knock on his door.

"When they look out, there's a small child. They open the door and start a conversation, and apparently the child's trying to collect money for a church. And, when the individual opens the door a little bit wider, two adult males rush in a rob him," said South Bend Police Captain Phil Trent.

One of the men was armed, Trent said. The men demanded money from the victim, police reports show, but settled for his ATM card, ID and cell phone because the victim had no cash.

The child, described by the victim only as "small," was there the whole time.

"We believe the child left willingly with the robbers, and it didn't appear he was a kidnapping victim or anything like that. Obviously, that's very disturbing if you're using a child as bait. That's on another level, because you're putting the child at risk too. You could have a child there in a shooting situation," Trent said.

That had many nearby neighbors upset, Thursday.

"It's a disgrace," said James.

"I just think it's awful, just awful," agreed Mae Moody, who lives a few doors down. "I am very surprised this would happen here. But, I think it's an even more terrible thing to have children involved."

But, police say there may be more to the story.

The homeowner inside--Joshua Amburgey, 20--faces charges including one felony count as an accomplice in connection with a bank robbery at a Lake City Bank branch in Warsaw last June. Amburgey turned himself in to police in September after speaking with the FBI.

WSBT archives show another man, Virgil Smith, was arrested in connection with that bank robbery. He's also charged in connection with another bank robbery in North Manchester.

Amburgey is now out of jail on bond, and police say that could mean the robbery wasn't random.

Even so, officers are still concerned for public safety.

Another armed home invasion occurred early Thursday morning on South Bend's west side, and two local banks were held up Tuesday and Wednesday.

South Bend Police arrested Michael Mitchell, 47 of South Bend Wednesday night, and charged him with felony robbery for holding up the First Source Bank on South Michigan Street Wednesday morning.

Police are still searching for three armed men who robbed the Mutual Bank in the 700 Block of East Ireland Road on Tuesday.

Police say none of the cases appear to be related. That's why they're asking homeowners to be extra vigilant. Many are already taking extra precautions.

"I'm observing more of what's going on in the neighborhood and [keeping my eyes open] more so," said Moody.

"I'm not taking any [chances]," agreed James. "Better safe than sorry."

Police don't have a good description of the suspects, but did find a bandanna nearby that Amburgey told them one of the robbers was wearing.

Anyone with any information is urged to call CrimeStoppers at (574) 288-STOP.