U Of M Officials Report Streak Of Armed Robberies
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The University of Minnesota is warning students and neighbors to be vigilant after four armed robberies near the Twin Cities campus since Wednesday.
The most recent occurred Sunday afternoon near 10th Avenue and University Avenue. Two men with handguns wearing dark hooded sweatshirts left the area in a block Dodge Durango, officials said. Minneapolis police are investigating.
It makes five robberies since Halloween.
"It's sad, but it doesn't bother me as much anymore," said Ben Johnson, a junior. "I get one of those notifications and it's like, 'Ok another one of those happened.'"
Two armed robberies reportedly happened simultaneously Friday near Huntington Bank Stadium.
On Wednesday, an armed suspect stole a purse and a phone southeast of campus.
"The prevalence of it is annoying, and I wish it was a lot better because it'd make me feel safer," said Charlie Sleeva, a junior.
Sleeva walked his friend, Kasey Schlicht, to her car all weekend while she visited from Whitewater, Wisconsin.
"I feel like I'm on edge as I'm walking at night especially in back roads that don't have a lot of light," Schlicht said. "When [Charlie's] with me I feel fine, but I don't really want to walk alone, especially at night."
This is not a new issue for university officials. Over the summer, President Joan Gabel wrote in a letter to students that Minneapolis and campus police would immediately become more visible around campus and Dinkytown.
She also had longer-term safety measures in mind, which Johnson says he's noticed.
"They've been increasing patrolling," Johnson said. "If you see those blue lights, they've been increasing those, so I think they're trying. I don't know if it's a problem that will ever go away in a big city like this, but I think they're trying."
Stephen Wong, a junior, said he appreciates receiving the crime notifications because they make him feel safer, but he'd like for them to be sent out more quickly.
The university didn't immediately respond to our request for comment.