A Northwestern student standing on the porch of his apartment was robbed early Sunday morning, according to an emergency alert from the University issued less than two hours later.

At approximately 1:20 a.m., four male teenagers were walking on the sidewalk on the 2000 block of Ridge Avenue when they noticed the NU student outside his residence. One of the teenagers asked the student for directions, and when the student produced his smart phone to assist him, another teenager grabbed it. All four then fled westbound on Leon Place, the NU student told officers.

According to the emergency notification, the student was not injured.

Evanston Police Department and University Police officers searched the area, but were unable to locate the four teenagers, described as 16 to 17 years old and ranging from 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-10 tall.

The student could not offer a more detailed description of the teens, according to the notification.

– Susan Du