Three female students were robbed at gunpoint early Saturday morning while walking south of 42nd and Pine streets.
Police have not arrested their attacker, but investigations in the case are ongoing.
The students were walking south along 42nd Street from Pine Street at about 2:15 a.m. As they reached the intersection of 42nd and Osage streets, an unknown man approached them from behind.
He proceeded to reveal a silver-colored, semiautomatic handgun and demand that the women hand over their purses.
After the students complied, the man fled south on 42nd Street toward Baltimore Avenue.
The students did not suffer any injuries, and they notified Penn Police officials immediately after the incident.
Police do not know the total value of the stolen goods but said that the purses contained assorted cash, keys and two cell phones.
The students described their attacker as a black male in his late 20s to early 30s. They reported that he is between 5 foot 9 and 5 foot 11 with a medium-dark complexion, a stocky build and short hair. They added that he has a round face with a wide nose.
At the time of the robbery, the male wore a black hooded sweatshirt and dark-colored jeans, they said.
Saturday's incident was the first armed robbery to involve Penn students since two male students were robbed at gunpoint during the early morning on March 11 at the corner of 40th and Spruce streets.
Police have not made any arrests in that case.
The police have, however, made efforts to add more personnel to the area surrounding 40th and Spruce streets. The officers are in place in response to a string of three unarmed robberies that occurred in the general area last week.
