Two women in their 60s were robbed near campus in separate incidents last weekend.
At approximately 8 p.m. on Saturday a 69-year-old retired University employee was walking on 200 S. 42nd St. when a male approached her from behind, struck her on her right arm and shoulder, knocked her to the ground and stole her purse.
The purse contained credit cards, a driver's license and $20.
No serious injuries were sustained by the female.
The robber was described as a 25- to 35-year-old black male with a thin build, dark complexion, thin beard, black baseball cap and dark jacket.
At approximately 7 a.m. Sunday a 64-year-old woman affiliated with the University was similarly approached and attacked at 3400 Spruce St. The robber, described as being between 5-foot-9 and 6 feet tall and wearing dark clothes and a hooded sweatshirt, took the woman's black tote bag containing miscellaneous personal papers and identification.
The victim suffered minor injuries to both knees.
Penn Police Detective Frank DeMeo said that police could not be certain that it was the same robber in both cases, but said that the robberies were of "the same style."
-- Jason Schwartz
