The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of Public Safety is warning the campus community to stay alert and take extra safety precautions in the wake of a reported strong-arm robbery on north campus just before 2 a.m. today (July 12).
Two suspects were described as black males, both in their early-to-mid-20s. One of the two suspects is also described as 5 feet, 8 inches in height, with a medium build, wearing khaki cargo pants, a white tank-top shirt, and a baseball cap. No further description of the second suspect was given. No weapons were used in the robbery.
A 23-year old male UNC student was walking back to campus from Franklin Street with two individuals he had met while in a restaurant downtown. When the victim reached the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center Building, one of the two suspects reportedly struck him from behind, knocking the victim to the ground. The suspects continued to strike the victim before fleeing on foot with the victim’s wallet and a small amount of cash. The victim suffered minor injuries which were not considered to be life-threatening.
Public safety officials urged the community to follow the following safety tips.
Don't walk alone at night. Use the buddy system. Walk in well-lit areas of campus.
Immediately report any and all suspicious activity to law enforcement by calling 9-1-1. Remember that 9-1-1 is not only for emergencies. If you do not have a cell phone, use the call boxes located across campus.
After 3 a.m., use UNC’s free Point-to-Point demand service by calling 962-7867 (962-P-TO-P) and providing your UNC personal identification number. The service is available at night to UNC students, faculty and staff at various locations during summer months.
Use Chapel Hill Transit, free to all passengers during operational hours. Web site:
www.chtransit.org
For more information, visit the Department of Public Safety Web site at: www.dps.unc.edu.
University police ask anyone with information in connection with the case to call the department at 962-8100 or Chapel Hill-Carrboro-UNC CrimeStoppers at 942-7515. All conversations are confidential; no one must identify themselves or appear in court.
Public Safety contact: Randy Young, (919) 698-7143 (cell); (919) 962-1502 (office)
News Services contact: Karen Moon, (919) 218-2584 (on call pager); (919) 218-2467 (cell)