Two held up at gunpoint

Two students were robbed at gunpoint Monday night in separate incidents, University Police said last night, bringing the total number of robberies since March 11 to 13, an average of more than one a day. In the first incident, a male student was robbed by a man armed with a shotgun at around 8 p.m. Monday night on 42nd Street between Walnut and Spruce streets, University Police Sergeant Ivan Kimble said. Kimble said the man approached the student from the front and, after producing a shotgun, demanded his wallet. He added that the student gave it to the man. The man fled north on 42nd Street and the student immediately notified University Police. The Philadelphia Police department apprehended a suspect matching the description given by the student, and found a shotgun and the student's property on him. The student positively identified the male, Kimble said, and the male was arrested. In the second incident, another male student was robbed Monday night at 11:25 as he exited the Chemistry Building, on the corner of 34th and Spruce streets, Kimble said. Kimble said the student was approached from behind by two perpetrators who told him they had a gun and robbed him of his wallet, which contained about $40 in cash. He added that the suspects fled east on Smith Walk toward 33rd Street. The student did not actually see a gun in the attack. Following the robbery, police stopped a possible suspect matching the description given by the student, but the suspect was not identified and subsequently released. No other suspects or arrests have been made in the incident. University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich said Monday that his department is investigating each incident thoroughly and increasing patrols in the areas where robberies have occurred.