Rash of crimes hits off campus

A rash of robberies has hit the off-campus area and University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich said his department is doing everything possible to solve the crimes. Since March 11, 11 robberies have taken place in the area immediately surrounding the campus, University Police reports reveal, and most victims of the robberies have been students. "There is certainly some consistency of occurrence," Kuprevich said. "But there is not consistency in location or in the type of robberies or attempted robberies." The robberies have spanned from 33rd and Walnut streets to 42nd Street between Spruce and Pine streets and most of the robbers in the incidents have used guns or knives. The rash of crime follows a relatively quiet spring break, when the only serious crime was a knifepoint robbery of a male student in the rear of the E.F. Smith building on 34th Street. As students returned to campus Monday, a man was robbed in the 300 block of South 38th Street. Two men stole $152 cash from the man, who has no affiliation with the University. University Police made no arrests. Early last Tuesday morning, a student was stabbed several times and robbed near the corner of 33rd and Walnut streets, University Police Sergeant Ivan Kimble said last week. University Police did not apprehend anyone in the attack. Later that same day, two gunpoint robberies of students and an attempted robbery of a retired University employee took place in less than an hour, possibly by the same three people. That series of robberies occurred on 40th Street, between Spruce and Pine streets, on 42nd Street, also between Spruce and Pine streets, and on South 38th Street, between Walnut and Locust streets. University Police made no arrests in any of the incidents. Two days later, on Thursday, two thieves robbed the Penn Federal Credit Union at 3900 Chestnut Street of $1,240 in cash, but were apprehended by University Police after a chase through the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. On Friday, a student was assaulted and robbed by five men in the 3900 block of Spruce Street. Attendants at a parking lot at 34th and Chestnut streets were assaulted and victims of attempted robberies in the same day. Again, University Police made no arrests. Finally, on Sunday evening, a student was robbed at gunpoint of $18 and a Lee's Hoagie employee was robbed of over $400 and his delivery bike. University Police made no arrests in either incident. But, Kuprevich said, officers are searching the areas around the crime scenes thoroughly, looking for suspects who match the physical and clothing descriptions given to police. "We have stopped several people loitering in those areas [near to where robberies have taken place] in the last several days," Kuprevich said. "We identify them and see what they are doing in the area. But to this point, we've not identified anyone that we believe is a prime suspect." Kuprevich added that each incident is being investigated by University Police detectives in conjunction with Philadelphia Police detectives. The investigations are an attempt to connect the robbery incidents that may be related. University Police are also focusing their patrols on the areas where incidents have occurred, Kuprevich said. "We're not increasing patrols at this point," he said. "But, shift by shift, supervisors are deploying officers to areas where they believe there has to be a higher level of presence." Kuprevich said police will still maintain a high level of visibility on campus, with walking patrols and bike patrols, while officers place emphasis on the problematic sights. "We stopped a guy just recently," Kuprevich said. "We went and talked to a group of homeless people also that have taken up residence under the Walnut Street bridge and our officers spoke to those people to see if they've seen anything and to ask for their assistance." Kuprevich said he advises students to be aware of their surroundings and to utilize the Escort Service. "If [students] see any situation that makes them feel uncomfortable, they should immediately get to an emergency [blue light] phone and we will respond," he said. Kuprevich also recommended that students not travel alone and call University Police for rides after Escort closes