Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

46° Evanston, IL
Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

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String of robberies remains a concern

A spat of robberies — some near Northwestern’s campus — has left questions unanswered and off-campus students on edge.

Since the beginning of Fall Quarter, seven instances of robberies have occurred — several in areas frequented by students. But Cmdr. Michael Perry of Evanston Police Department said the police department is not calling the increase a trend.

“Everything comes in spurts,” Perry said.

The first robbery occurred Sept. 27 when Communication senior Bryan Glenn was robbed at gunpoint outside his apartment on the 800 block of Hamlin Street.

Glenn said he thought the three men who approached him were joking when one of them yelled, “Freeze.”

But when the man cocked a gun and began running toward him, Glenn said his survival instinct kicked in. Without thinking, he pulled out his wallet and offered it, he said.

“I felt completely cooperative,” Glenn said. “Luckily, that appeased them and they left.”

Six other people have been violently robbed since Glenn’s encounter with the three unknown offenders.

When looking for trends in criminal activity, police examine three main characteristics: suspects, victims and setting, said Alexander Weiss, director of NU’s Center for Public Safety.

“You may be able to conclude that there is one suspect, or that the incidents are related,” he said. “But sometimes the method is just similar.”

The robberies all have been committed against a single victim walking alone outdoors, except for Sunday’s incident that involved a victim being dragged from his car in west Evanston.

The victims have been five males and two females, all of varying ages.

The offenders stole a purse or wallet in every incident and offenders threatened their victims with guns in five of the cases. Descriptions of the weapons provided by victims range from a silver revolver to a semi-automatic handgun.

In one incident a victim was hit on the head with a brick before two men took cash from his backpack, and in another incident offenders attacked the victim with their hands after asking him for a cigarette.

Most of the robberies have occurred at night. One occurred in the afternoon, another in the morning.

Descriptions of offenders provide the most useful information for police investigating a crime, Weiss said.

But police reports in all cases provide only vague descriptions of the offenders and suggest between one and four offenders.

Whether the high number of reported robberies is a trend or just a coincidence, violent crime is on the minds of students as well as police.

Weinberg senior Annie Goitein said she felt insecure after hearing a man was robbed at gunpoint on the 2100 block of Ridge Avenue early Saturday morning.

Goitein, who lives on the 2200 block of Ridge Avenue, said she has begun using the Student Escort Service instead of walking home alone at night.

“The Escort Service is easy to use,” she said. “You just have to time it right and call well before you’re ready to go” because of long wait times during peak hours, she said.

Goitein and her three roommates try to coordinate their evening travel schedules so they can walk home together if possible, she said.

Neighborhoods near university campuses are especially vulnerable to crime, Weiss said.

“Students tend to underestimate the risks,” he said. “They feel safe on campus.”

Perry said people should be alert when walking at night, especially if they are approaching a potentially suspicious situation.

“If you are heading toward something that makes you feel uncomfortable, find another way to go,” he said.

It can be hard to prevent robberies and if they happen victims should cooperate fully, Perry said.

“Don’t try to be a hero,” he said. “You can always replace material things.”

Glenn said he agreed, adding most people who never have been confronted with a gun do not even think about resisting.

“It’s best to be as optimistic as possible,” he said. “Assume (the offenders) don’t want to hurt you, they just want your stuff.”

The effect of these instances also is being felt on campus. Lt. Nicholas Parashis of University Police said although the recent armed robberies have been off campus, officers are warned to be aware of violence.

Student Safety Alliance, a group that monitors campus security issues, is working with administrators and UP to distribute security whistles as a tool to draw attention in potentially dangerous situations, said Associated Student Government President Rachel Lopez.

Student Safety Alliance, which includes members of ASG, Panhellenic Association and Women’s Coalition, will meet Thursday to discuss its plans, Lopez said.

Last year the group lobbied the university to improve campus lighting and reroute the night shuttle service. This year they plan to address the problem of break-ins during winter and spring breaks, Lopez said.

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Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881
String of robberies remains a concern