Wayne State University has issued an alert to warn students, staff and faculty to take precautions after a 23-year-old student was robbed.
It happened at 12:05 a.m. on Friday, March 10 near 2nd Street and West Warren.
The woman says she was walking by he Biological Sciences Building when two men jumped up from a bench and pointed what a gun-shaped object at her. The suspects got away with the woman's green canvas bag.
The first suspect is described as a black male, 25 to 30 years of age, about 5’ 6’’, wearing a navy blue jacket and dark baggy pants. The second suspect is described as a black male, 25 to 30 years of age, about 5’ 8’’ with a rounded face wearing a black hoodie and dark baggy pants.
WSU RELEASED THE FOLLOWING LETTER WHICH INCLUDES SAFETY PREVENTION ADVICE:
To All WSU Students, Staff and Faculty,
The following information is provided to alert WSU students, staff and faculty, as well as area residents, of this incident, so that they may take additional precautions in the area.
At 12:05 am last night (Friday, March 10, 2017) Officers responded to Second and W. Warren Ave. on a report of an armed robbery. When they arrived, a 23 year old female WSU student stated she was robbed by two unknown males, several minutes earlier, just South of 5047 2nd Street near West Warren. 5047 2nd Street is the location of the Biological Sciences Building.
The student stated she was walking South past the Biological Sciences Building when she observed the two suspects sitting on the black benches just South of the 5047 2nd Street near W. Warren. They jumped up from the bench and pointed at her a gun-shaped object covered with a black t-shirt. Suspect 1 grabbed onto her green, canvas, drawstring backpack and demanded it. After struggling for about 10 seconds to retain her bag, the student released it and both suspects fled West on West Warren toward Anthony Wayne Drive. The student did not suffer any injuries during the altercation. Officers completed an area search with negative results.
Physical Description:
Subject #1: Unknown black male, 25 to 30 years of age, about 5’ 6’’, wearing a navy blue jacket and dark baggy pants.
Subject #2: Unknown black male, 25 to 30 years of age, about 5’ 8’’ with a rounded face wearing a black hoodie and dark baggy pants.
Prevention Tips:
Be Aware of Your Surroundings:
Police Officers use this term frequently. It means nothing more than simply being aware of what is going on around you and whether or not that activity is normal and expected for the setting. If something seems strange, unusual or suspicious, you are asked to contact the WSU Police immediately at 313-577-2222. Officers will be dispatched immediately to check out the activity.
Notice Other People:
Look at the people around you, not just a momentary casual glance, but take a good look. Notice if they just glance at you (a normal reaction when making eye contact with a stranger) or if they are watching you. If you notice that they are paying more than momentary attention to you, that may be a red flag that you are about to be targeted.
Open Display of Valuables:
The open display of valuables, including jewelry, cash, and/or high end electronics (including cell phones, iPads, iPhones, etc.) in public places could be just the information a potential thief needs to target you as his next victim.
Trust Your Instincts:
If someone makes you feel uneasy, trust your instincts and act accordingly. Whether indoors or out, change directions and proceed to areas where other people may be around.
Assess Your Own Vulnerability:
Strangers aren't out to attack YOU. It is nothing personal, they are just looking for the easiest target of opportunity. Your goal, therefore, is to look like somebody who will be too much trouble to mess with. They also want to make you their victim without attracting attention from others. Make it a point, wherever you go, to stay in areas where other people are present. As soon as you enter an area where no one else is around, your guard and defenses should be on alert.
Attitude:
Keep your head up. Look at your surroundings and be aware of them. Headphones may give the impression that you are less aware, as well as being completely engaged in a cell phone conversation.
To reduce your chances of becoming a robbery victim, we recommend you routinely walk in areas where you can see others and others can see you.
Robbery perpetrators, like any other criminal, don't want to be caught "in the act" of robbing someone. They prefer areas where neither potential victims nor witnesses will see them. By staying in populated areas, you increase your chances of never being selected for this type of crime.
Whether you are in the city or the suburbs and you find yourself confronted by a robber, the most important thing that you can do during the incident is to prevent, if possible, any violence. Always assume the robber is armed, even if you can’t see a weapon, and act accordingly. If you are the victim of a robbery consider these important tips:
• Get it over with quickly. Chances are if you stall, the robber will get nervous and may be more prone to violence.
• Nothing you have or own is worth getting hurt for. Valuables can be replaced, you cannot.
• Do what the robber asks, but do not volunteer to do anything more. Move quickly, but carefully to give the robber exactly what they want.
• Do not fight or try any impulsive heroics. The risks are high if the robber is armed.
• Do not volunteer to go anywhere with the robber or allow them to take you anywhere. The odds are heavily against you if you allow them to take you to a secondary crime scene where they have more privacy and more control over you.
• Do not chase the robber. Carefully note their physical description and the direction they flee in. If they have a vehicle, note its type, make, color and license plate if possible.
• If you have the opportunity to flee, do so immediately. The robber wants your property most of all. Drop it or throw in one direction, then run in the opposite direction, to any area where there may be other people around.
• Call the Wayne State University Police immediately at 313-577-2222.
CELL PHONE THEFTS
A very popular item with thieves is your smart phone or iPhone. Theft of cell phones (either left unattended or forcibly taken from you by a stranger) can occur both on campus, in surrounding in the MidTown area, or in the community you call home. The following information is reprinted from the April 24, 2014 issue of Campus Watch:
Have a Smart phone? You'll Want to Read This!
If you own a Smart phone, you need to be aware of its value to thieves and what you can do to protect yourself and your property.
If you have not installed or activated a "Find My Phone" tracking app on your smart phone, read the "5 Steps to Protect Your Smart Phone from Theft" article (linked below) to learn how to install and use the "Find My Phone" capabilities of your iPhone. Android phone or Windows phone
As we have noted in previous issues of Campus Watch, the theft of iPhones and other "iDevices" is increasing at an alarming rate across the country. According to a very recent NBCNews.com story (linked below) this crime spree is not going away - it's getting worse. According to a just released national survey by Consumer Reports, about 3.1 million Americans had their iPhones stolen in 2013). And that number is almost double the estimated 1.6 million iPhones stolen in the U.S. during 2012. See the following linked articles:
"5 Steps to Protect Your Smart Phone from Theft or Loss" (Consumer Reports - April 2014)
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2014/04/5-steps-to-protect-your-smart-phone-against-theft-or-loss/index.htm
CELL PHONE THEFTS
A very popular item with thieves is your smart phone or iPhone. Theft of cell phones (either left unattended or forcibly taken from you by a stranger) can occur both on campus, in the surrounding Midtown area, or in the community you call home. The following information is reprinted from the April 24, 2014 issue of Campus Watch:
Have a Smart phone? You'll Want to Read This!
If you own a Smart phone, you need to be aware of its value to thieves and what you can do to protect yourself and your property.
If you have not installed or activated a "Find My Phone" tracking app on your smart phone, read the "5 Steps to Protect Your Smart Phone from Theft" article (linked below) to learn how to install and use the "Find My Phone" capabilities of your iPhone. Android phone or Windows phone
As we have noted in previous issues of Campus Watch, the theft of iPhones and other "iDevices" is increasing at an alarming rate across the country. According to a very recent NBCNews.com story (linked below) this crime spree is not going away - it's getting worse. According to a national survey by Consumer Reports, about 3.1 million Americans had their iPhones stolen in 2013. That number is almost double the approximate 1.6 million iPhones stolen in the U.S. during 2012. See the following linked articles:
Phone Thefts Soar as Kill Switch Debate Heats Up:
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/phone-thefts-soar-kill-switch-debate-heats-n84086
"5 Steps to Protect Your Smart Phone from Theft or Loss" (Consumer Reports - April 2014)
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2014/04/5-steps-to-protect-your-smart-phone-against-theft-or-loss/index.htm
