Police Investigating Armed Robbery Near U Of M
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Police are investigating after the second armed robbery in as many days near the University of Minnesota campus.
Police said at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, four men wearing masks threatened a victim with a gun near 8th Street and 14th Avenue. The suspects took the victim's cell phone and wallet, police said.
Late Friday night, a student was attacked and robbed on campus near Williamson Hall. The victim suffered at least one chipped tooth in the attack before the suspects fled with his wallet and phone. Police said three of the four suspects in that case are in custody.
The University of Minnesota Police Department said these are the first reported armed robberies of 2015 near the campus. Police said with spring semester just starting, there can be an uptick in crime. Students are reminded to be cautious and try not to walk alone, especially at night.
Police said there was a significant uptick in campus robberies in the fall semester of 2013, when there were 26 reported. Those robberies were cut in half in the fall semester of 2014, largely due to the campus taking more precautions, including increased street lighting and heightened security measures.