| Three robberies may be connected |
|
|
|
| Written by Ali Amir Mustansir, The Shorthorn senior staff | ||||
| Monday, 23 November 2009 06:24 PM | ||||
UTA Police Department AdviceIf students are approached and asked for their phone, they should say no and walk the opposite direction and toward a crowd. He said if a car approaches a student they should not go near the car and walk away. In both cases call police as soon as possible.Get as much information as safely possible, like a description of the person, the vehicle and license plate. Source: UTA assistant police chief Rick Gomez Three robberies on and near campus this week have a similar operating methods, Gomez said. He said in each case the description given by the victim has been a young African-American male in dark clothing who asks a question before taking their possessions. Gomez said they are looking at the cases as though they are connected, but treating them as separate investigations. He said in the three years he has been at the school he has not seen a series of robberies in a short period of time. Gomez said the robberies may be gang-related as part of an initiation. Cell Phone Thefts On Friday three men approached two students in the faculty parking lot on Third Street and asked to use a cell phone. When the phone was provided, one student was punched in the face and the men ran away, Gomez said. According to a police bulletin a second report was made later that day at Forest Glen apartments. Two men approached a student in the parking lot and asked to use his phone. The student told police a third man stayed back in the shadows. The men fled after the phone was provided. Mechanical engineering senior Kazeem Okedele said he doesn’t stay on campus after his classes get out at 8 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday. He said he is not concerned about his safety. “I don’t talk to strangers really,” he said. “I’m the kind of person that if I don’t know you I don’t have much to say.” Okedele said if someone asked him for a phone he would say he doesn’t have one and keep walking. Backpack and Wallet Theft According to a police report early Sunday a student was approached by a group of 10 – 15 African-American males. One of the men asked the student a question then punched him in the face and fled with his backpack and wallet. The report said the men got into two separate vehicles, a dark-colored SUV and a dark-colored, four-door sedan. English junior Randi Edwards said she only has night classes because of work during the day. She said it would be good if there were more security guards on campus at night when she is walking across campus after class. “I get kind of creeped out walking to my car at night,” she said. Edwards said she is concerned and pays more attention to her surroundings after dark, but is not always alone because other students are around. Views: 359 | E-mail
Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6 |
||||
| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 27 January 2010 03:31 PM ) | ||||
Be first to comment this article
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Copyright © 2005 - 2010 The Shorthorn.
