A Houston Market employee was robbed at gunpoint by two unidentified men Sunday night in Houston Hall, according to University Police.
The male employee was not injured, although the alleged robbers were able to flee the popular student spot with a total of $8000.
Police officials remained tight-lipped last night, declining to comment on details of the incident or whether any students were present at the time.
According to police reports, two men allegedly came down to the basement of Houston Hall, located at 3417 Spruce St., a few minutes before 8:30 p.m. Authorities would not give details about how the two assailants gained access to the building.
The doors to Houston Hall remain unlocked until midnight, and no form of identification is needed to gain access.
Both men were reportedly wearing masks and carrying guns.
They allegedly proceeded to tie up a male employee with duct tape and took money from the office where the employee was working.
Houston Hall's basement is home to a food court, a game room, a travel agency, various vending machines and the vacant space formerly occupied by Messages card shop.
Houston Market, the food court located on the basement level, is open until 9 p.m., on Sundays, meaning students could have been in the vicinity at the time of the robbery.
Houston management personnel refused to give details about the precise location of the robbery for fear it would jeopardize the investigation into the incident.
University Police Det. Ray Rodman would not comment on the case other than to say that the department is conducting an "ongoing investigation."
Two Penn Police detectives have been assigned to the investigation.
The two men were both described as African American, between 5'9" and 5'10" tall, with medium builds, and clean shaven. Both were also reported to be between 23 and 25 years of age. There was no word on whether or not the assailants were believed to be affiliated with the University.
