SMU Students On Edge After Latest Campus Robbery
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Southern Methodist University is increasing its police patrols further after issuing its fourth alert to students in three weeks.
The university will station officers in an alley between the Owen Arts Center and two dorms, where the latest robbery and an attempted robbery took place.
"I think it's very surprising we're having so many robberies. In all my four years, we've never had these many robberies in such a short period of time so whenever I get an alert, it's kind of alarming," said senior Marisela Munoz.
An SMU spokesperson said at 11:30 Thursday night, a man approached a female student in the alley, grabbed her arm, stole some of her belongings, and then ran. Kayla Graves said the latest robbery took place very close to her dorm. "I actually went home the past couple of days because it's finals and I'm scared to study late at night in the library because it happened right in that alley way."
Police are still searching for the suspect in this case, and for the man who attempted to rob another female student in the same spot April 21. In that case, the student ran away when the man with a gun demanded her stuff.
Police have arrested the suspects in two other recent robberies: One along SMU Blvd. near Central Expressway, and the other near campus in a CVS along Mockingbird at Central.
"If I ever do have to go to the library, somewhere, I tend to go with somebody else. I never like to walk alone outside past 8pm when it's dark," said Munoz.
She said she's glad SMU previously increased police patrols around campus and is doing more now. It also offers a ride service to students around the clock called "giddyup."
SMU said students can also call the SMU police department and ask for a ride if they don't feel safe.
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