Two students were robbed inside of Hamilton Court at about 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Two men were waiting in the lobby when College juniors Albert Tsai and Julietta Change entered the building at the Chestnut Street entrance. One of the suspects asked if the students wanted to buy a PlayStation, Division of Public Safety spokeswoman Karima Zedan said.
The students declined the offer and proceeded to the elevator.
The second suspect then held the elevator doors open and demanded money. He implied he was armed but did not show a weapon.
"The guy forced him inside, so it was just the three of us," Tsai said in an interview last night. He "became pretty aggressive, wanting money" and "started reaching down into his pants" to suggest that he might have a gun, Tsai added.
Tsai gave him $5 from his wallet and the two suspects left the building.
No one was injured in the incident.
Contacted by phone last night, Chang said she was "really surprised" that a robbery would happen inside Hamilton Court.
"It was just scary because we were cornered in the elevator and he wouldn't let us out," she said.
One of the suspects is described as a black male, about 5 feet 6 inches tall and with a medium build. The other suspect is described as a black male, about 5 feet 9 inches, also with a medium build.
Zedan did not say if there were any leads in the case, which is under investigation by the University Police Department. Although the criminals were already in the building when the students encountered them, it is not known how they gained access to the premises, Philadelphia Police Department officials said.
"I'm just worried because I was on the inside of my apartment [building] rather than out on the streets," Chang said.
"I just wish the security was better, both in the building and on the streets," she added, though she did say she was happy with Penn Police's response to the incident.
Officials from University City Housing - the landlord for Hamilton Court - were unavailable for comment as of press time.
In spite of the incident, other Hamilton Court residents said they usually feel safe in the area.
"I've always been pretty impressed with [the security in] Hamilton Court," College senior Mary Kate Leonard said. "Given that I've lived here for two years and never anything like that, . that's a pretty good track record."
But both Leonard and College junior Catherine Lim, who also lives in Hamilton Court, said problems usually arise when non-residents are let into the building.
"It's a matter of students being a little more cautious," Lim said.
