ROBBERIES - OFF CAMPUS
POSTED: November 18, 2008

University Police are re-issuing to campus the following crime alert from the Minneapolis Police Department. Over the weekend there were four robberies of person in southeast Minneapolis. In three of those cases, University of Minnesota students were victims. These are Minneapolis investigations, however University Police in cooperation with Minneapolis are directing patrol resources into those neighborhoods.

*Minneapolis Police Department Crime Alert:*

*Facts:*

Over the weekend, the 2nd Precinct had six armed robberies. The victims have been females who have had their purse or possessions taken. They occurred at:

. 14th Ave NE and 3rd St NE -- 11/15/2008 7:55 p.m.

. 20th Ave NE and 4th St NE -- 11/16/2008 1:15 a.m.

. 2500 block of University Ave SE -- 11/16/2008 2:53 a.m.

. 12 Ave SE and 7th St SE -- 11/16/2008 3:07 a.m.

. 10 Ave SE and 7th St SE -- 11/16/2008 9:25 p.m.

. 12 Ave SE and 4th St SE -- 11/17/2008 12:52 a.m.

*Suspect information:*

Suspects are at least 2 black males between the ages of 16 and 29 years of age. In several cases, a dark or black 4-door car was seen in the area and possibly a 3rd black male was driving it. Anyone with information about any of these cases is urged to call the Minneapolis Police Department Robbery Unit at (612) 673-2941.

As a reminder, racial descriptors alone are not a valid reason to profile or cast suspicion on an individual. In cases of serious crime such as this we may include them only as part of the totality of circumstances, if it may reasonably assist in the identification of the perpetrators.

Please remember the following:

* When threatened with a weapon, it's best not to resist. Your personal safety is more important than a lost wallet or cell phone.
* Always be aware of your surroundings.
* Walk in well lit areas and don't walk alone. If you can't find someone to walk with, call the Campus Escort service at 612-624-WALK for a free security escort.
* Carry minimal amounts of valuables.
* Keep written records of valuables, including model and serial numbers, in a safe place.
* Call 911 immediately if you are the victim or witness to a crime.
* Document information about the suspect for police (i.e. clothing descriptions, facial features, piercings or tattoos, speech, etc.)

This Crime Alert is sent in compliance with the federal Clery Act which requires universities to alert the campus community of crimes that may pose an ongoing threat to students and employees. For updates on any developments in this case, please visit the Crime Alerts page on the UMPD website: http://www1.umn.edu/police/alerts.html