Robbery Spree Continues
Armed assailants flee fourth attack empty-handed
The spree of armed robberies that has had much of the Charles River Campus on edge continued Tuesday night with the fourth armed assault in just over two weeks. Boston University Police report that a female student was accosted at about 8:30 p.m. in the driveway of 808 Commonwealth Ave. The woman told police that two assailants, who brandished a handgun, fled after they learned she had nothing of value in her bag.
As in the three previous assaults, the suspects, who were wearing hooded sweatshirts, are black males between the ages of 16 and 20. No one has been injured in any of the incidents.
Peter Fiedler (COM’77), vice president for administrative services, says the woman called the BU Police, who arrived at the area after the suspects had fled through the parking lot.
“The BU Police and the Brookline Police are very, very concerned,” says Fiedler. “They are hell-bent to catch these guys, and they are asking all students to report anything suspicious as soon as they see it.”
On Friday, October 5, a recent BU grad was mugged in broad daylight just four blocks from Commonwealth Avenue. The incident took place at 5:15 p.m. at the corner of St. Paul and Thatcher Streets, one block from the robbery of three BU students at about 5 p.m. on September 25. Two days earlier, at approximately 3 a.m. on September 23, two BU students were robbed of an iPhone, an Android cell phone, a wallet, and $50 at the corner of Thorndike Street and Hamilton Road, about eight blocks from Friday’s incident.
Boston University Police added three more patrols to the area of the crimes in the immediate wake of the second robbery, and Brookline Police also stepped up patrols.
BUPD Chief Thomas Robbins warns students who see anything suspicious not to confront people on the street. Rather, he says, concerned members of the community can anonymously text information to the BUPD at tip411 (847411), keyword: BU.
BUPD Detective Lieutenant Peter DiDomenica advises students living on or off campus to follow some basic safety precautions:
- Avoid poorly lit areas late at night.
- Get a ride instead of walking. If walking is the only option, do so in large groups.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t wear headphones or talk on your cell phone.
- At the first sign of trouble, dial 911 or the BUPD at 617-353-2121.
BUPD urges students, faculty, and staff to report suspicious people and activity on or near campus by calling 617-353-2121 or text messaging tip411 (847411), keyword: BU.
An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that the victim in Tuesday’s robbery refused to hand over her possessions to robbers. In fact, the robbers left when they found nothing of value in her bag. We regret the error.
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