Safety Alert

TO: Twin Cities Students, Staff, and Faculty

There have been two recent robberies along Cleveland Avenue on the St. Paul Campus. One occurred near the intersection of Buford Avenue and the other was near the intersection of Doswell Avenue. Both locations are just south of Bailey Hall. They occurred as follows:

-Just before 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 10, 2006, a young adult visitor to campus was robbed near the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and Buford Avenue. One of the suspects implied that he had a gun. The victim was not injured and the suspects fled with his wallet and backpack and departed in a dark colored mini-van being driven by a third suspect. The suspects were described by the victim as being two males in their late teens to early twenties, approximately six-feet tall, of light build, and of East-African origin. One was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, and the other was dressed in dark clothing.

-Just after 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 11, 2006, a student was robbed near the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and Doswell Avenue. The victim was approached by two males who demanded the victim's book bag. One of the suspects held something to the victim's back while the suspects wrestled the victim to the ground. The suspects took the victim's book bag and ran westbound on Doswell Avenue from Cleveland Avenue. The victim was not seriously injured. Both suspects were described as being males in their early twenties, approximately 5' 6" to 5' 10" tall with medium builds and dark complexions. One suspect was described as wearing a brown striped thigh-length long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans and the other was described as wearing an orange long-sleeve shirt.

Cleveland Avenue is a busy thoroughfare in the afternoon, and it is hoped that somebody witnessed the incidents as they were driving or walking by. Anyone with information regarding the suspects or the vehicle in either incident is encouraged to call the University of Minnesota Police Department (UMPD) at 612-624-COPS (2677) to assist us in solving this crime.

The UMPD urges people to immediately call 9-1-1 to report suspicious activity. While crime overall remains stable on campus, robberies have occurred in and around the University area at all hours of the day and days of the week. If confronted by a robber, be cooperative. Take note of any descriptors and physical attributes you can, and give them to the police dispatcher as soon as possible after the incident so that police are able to respond quickly in an attempt to apprehend those responsible.

This information is also posted at the UMPD Web site.

Greg Hestness
Assistant Vice President of Public Safety and University Police Chief