ROBBERY - NEAR TCF BANK STADIUM

POSTED: SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

On Sunday, September 27, a University of Minnesota student was the victim of a robbery and was held against his will by two men who threatened to kill him if he didn't comply with their demands.

The victim was waiting for a cab near TCF Bank Stadium at approximately 4:00 a.m. on Sunday when he was approached by two suspects in a vehicle. The suspects threatened the victim and ordered him into the vehicle. One of the suspects implied that he had a gun, but the victim never saw a weapon.

The suspects robbed the victim of his personal belongings and drove him to a bank on Cedar and Riverside Avenues where they forced him to withdraw money from an automatic teller machine. As the three made their way back to the vehicle, the victim ran toward a group of people standing near a bus stop while calling for help. The suspects then fled northbound on 19th Avenue South.

Both suspects are described as black males with dark complexions, approximately 23 to 25 years old and both spoke with an African accent. The suspect driving the vehicle had neck-long, braided black hair and was wearing a light colored football jersey with baby-blue lettering and a double digit number. The passenger in the vehicle was wearing a green t-shirt and a green baseball cap turned backward on his head. The vehicle is described as a four door, red or maroon Cadillac CTS. No license plate information is available.

Minneapolis Police are investigating the robbery. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Minneapolis Police Department tip line at 612-692-8477. Reference case number MP-09-306951.

The University of Minnesota Police Department asks that you 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://http://www1.umn.edu/police/alerts.html

For more on campus safety and security, and for a list of campus safety resources available to you, visit the University's Emergency Preparedness Web Site.