A Triangle Diner employee was robbed at approximately 10 p.m. Tuesday night outside King's Court/English House.
The employee, who was bringing food to the dormitory located at 3465 Sansom St., was approached from behind and grabbed around the neck. He was then threatened with an unknown object, described by campus police as "something hard," which was placed against the back of his neck.
It is unknown whether the object was a gun. The University of Pennsylvania Police Department said that the robber told the employee, "Give it up before you die."
The robber was described as a 5-foot-7, 160-pound black man with a medium complexion and braided hair, who was wearing a black Dickie waistband jacket and blue jeans.
He made off with $5 in cash, the food order the Triangle Diner employee was carrying, a Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority TransPass and the man's bike. The robber then fled north on 36th Street on the bike.
The diner employee was not harmed.
The area was under video surveillance, and detectives are reviewing the footage, according to a UPPD official. Surveillance and patrols will also be increased around college houses, and they will "key in on certain areas."
The official added that these increased patrols will likely be continued until the robber is caught. "If [crime] patterns change," he said, "then our patrol patterns will change."
Matt Smith, operations director for Aramark Corporation, which runs the Triangle Diner, said that this was the first time the diner had dealt with an incident of this nature.
"Everything is in the police's hands," he said, withholding further comment.
"It's definitely a shock," said Julie Chang, a College freshman and KC/EH resident.
"The fact that it happened right where I live is sort of scary, especially considering that there's supposed to be security all around."
Sachin Rekhi, a KC/EH manager and Engineering and Wharton senior, agreed that it was surprising that the robbery occurred outside his dorm, especially at a busy time of night.
"It makes me worry more. My girlfriend comes over late at night and walks alone, and I don't want her to do that anymore," Rekhi said.
Algernon Wildes, who is a food service employee at Lee's Hoagie House, said that being robbed is a constant concern for him.
"I try to keep a pocket knife," Wildes said, adding that making deliveries can be "pretty frightening."
