String Of Rutgers Robberies Has Students Looking Over Their Shoulders
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Students at Rutgers University are on edge after an overnight crime spree early Saturday morning.
Three robberies occurred between 1:30 and 3 a.m. in an area just off the main campus, CBS2's Mark Morgan reported. In two of the incidents, victims were threatened with handguns.
Concerned students are now fearful of what's next.
"It's definitely a little scary," said freshman Joe Suseck. "But when I decided to come here, I knew Rutgers was a very populated area. There's a lot of bad things that could happen."
"It's terrifying because we go out, and stuff like that can happen right where we live," said sophomore Megan O'Sullivan.
Some of the students CBS2 spoke with are shaken by the robberies, and they have become even more focused on their own safety.
"It makes me really worried, but I have Mace, and I usually call one of my friends when I'm walking by myself so, in the event that something were to happen, I feel pretty protected," said Nicole Chan, a junior.
The Rutgers University Police Department says it has placed additional officers in the 2nd, 5th and 6th wards of New Brunswick and is coordinating its investigation with the New Brunswick Police Department.
Also, students said they are receiving email crime alerts, updating them on the incidents.
"So we know what's occurring," said sophomore Mackenzie Hestavold. "We can know what the suspects look like, and pretty much that we have full awareness of everything that's going on."
"The other day I got three (alerts) in a row," said sophomore Kevin Gorman. "I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, it's kind of crazy.'"
Despite the flow of communication and the promise of beefed-up security, the students just want the suspects brought to justice.
"I hope something is done by the police to catch the people, because none of them have been caught," said Olivia Schiffer, a sophomore.
Rutgers police said they are providing security escorts upon requests for students concerned about their safety.
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