A Northwestern student was robbed Saturday night on campus near Shepard Residential College, according to an emergency alert from the University issued Sunday morning.

Police are still searching for the thief, who they described as a male black, 18 to 22 years old, approximately 6-foot-1 to 6-foot-2 tall, approximately 180 pounds, having an average build, and wearing a multi-colored hat with stripes and blue jeans, according to the emergency notification.

The NU student was walking south on Sheridan Road near University Place when a man approached him from behind and asked about the time. After the student referenced his smart phone and told the man the time, he continued walking, eventually turning west on University Place.

While walking between the 600 and 700 blocks of University Place, the man approached the student from behind again, this time demanding the student turn over his smart phone. The man then stated he had a knife, but no knife was ever displayed, according to the emergency notification.

The man then punched the student in the face, grabbed the smart phone from him, pushed him down and fled west on University Place toward downtown Evanston.

The student initially chased after the thief, according to the emergency notification.

The student first called the Evanston Police Department, which responded to the scene along with University Police. Both departments searched the area to no avail.

According to the emergency notification, the student declined medical treatment.

Messages left with University Police and Evanston Police Department were not immediately returned Sunday evening. The Evanston Police Department is currently investigating the incident.

– Patrick Svitek