Four more U. students robbed near campus

Three of four recent incidentsThree of four recent incidentsinvolved weapons; number ofThree of four recent incidentsinvolved weapons; number ofrobbery victims climbs to 20 Despite last week's arrests of three armed robbery suspects, four more students were robbed -- two of them at gunpoint -- in three different incidents Sunday night and early Monday morning. One perpetrator stole $400 from a University student. In a separate fourth incident, a 7-11 employee was also the victim of an armed robbery. The only robbery that may not have involved a weapon occurred Sunday night, when two assailants approached two Penn students, forced them to the ground and simulated wielding a weapon. The four recent incidents raise the total number of robberies in the campus area during the last 18 days to 14 and the number of robbery victims to at least 20 in the same period. Last Wednesday, University Police arrested three men who they believe are responsible for many of the recent armed robberies near campus. Investigators predict they will arrest those involved in other incidents by the middle of this week. "Last week's arrests really cut into the problem, but one, two or even three men did not commit all of these crimes," University Police Captain John Richardson said. "Apparently, we have a few more bad characters out there who are preying on our community and we have some more weeding out to do." According to Richardson, combating the increase in robberies is a top priority for the University's police force. He said the University has commissioned "the full complement of police officers, investigators and detectives" to deal with the incidents. Richardson said he is now limiting the amount of benefit time off awarded to the force, a move he thinks will make the officers better prepared to handle emergencies on weekends and nights, when the force is usually at its weakest level. "The increased force is going to get the word out to people who are intent on coming into campus and committing these crimes -- it is not going to happen anymore," Richardson said. "Some criminals will be caught and prosecuted, then the rest will go someplace else." Richardson noted that a majority of the robbery victims have been men. Though unsure of the reasoning behind that trend, Richardson said the "trend is good -- women are not becoming victims of prey, which means other horrible things aren't happening." "If I had to choose between my daughter and son being robbed, I would choose my son," Richardson added. "I think he would be able to handle it better because he wouldn't do anything dumb, like scream." The four most recent incidents all involved men, according to Richardson. At 9:35 p.m. Sunday, two male University students were approached from behind by two 17 to 21-year-olds and forced to the ground at St. Marks and Spruce streets. The pair of assailants pretended they had a weapon and stole a student's jacket, pager and wallet, containing $5, credit cards, a PennCard and a New York driver's license. "The criminals could have had a gun or could have simply been putting their hands in their pockets," Richardson said. "We just don't know." Just an hour later, at 10:38 p.m. Sunday, one male University student was robbed at gunpoint on the 4000 block of Pine Street by two six-foot tall men. The perpetrators took a wallet containing $20 dollars, an ATM card, credit cards and a PennCard. Another armed robbery occurred early Monday morning at 3:40 a.m. on the 3700 block of Walnut Street. A male University student was robbed by a six-foot-tall man. The assailant took $400 dollars, a belt, a shirt and the student's PennCard. At about the same time Monday morning, a 7-11 employee was robbed with a knife at the store on 4201 Walnut Street. The employee had his gold chain stolen, but it was returned in a few hours after the perpetrator was apprehended by University Police. "One fortunate thing is that there were no injuries reported in any of these incidents," Richardson said. Richardson is urging all students to use caution and remember basic safety laws. He advised the University community to avoid walking alone at night, to be aware of their surroundings, to use Penn Escort or bus services and to carry small amounts of money. "Students at Penn should always be aware of their surroundings," Richardson said. "Not just right now, even though it is a little more crucial."