Newark police are investigating two strong-arm robberies of university students that occurred early Wednesday morning. The suspects involved have not yet been apprehended.
Police said a 21-year-old female university student was robbed at approximately 2 a.m. at the University Courtyard Apartments in the 700 block of Scholar Drive. The student, who lives in Dumont, N.J., heard a knock on the door of the controlled-access 700 building after she entered. She saw a man wearing a black or gray sweatshirt with red lettering standing outside the door.
The student allowed the man into the building, and he forced her to the ground as she was walking away. The suspect removed the victim's purse and then fled the apartment building. She was unharmed during the incident.
In an email obtained by The Review sent from Courtyards management to its residents about the crime, the property manager stated that patrol hours for off-duty police officers have been increased in response to the incident. The email cited that the Courtyards management staff routinely contracts these officers to patrol the property.
A 21-year-old Newark woman and a 21-year-old male international student from Portugal were walking on Cleveland Avenue near Kershaw Street at 1:40 a.m. when three men approached them, according to police.
One of the men, who police say wore a black, hooded sweatshirt with red lettering, grabbed the woman and forcibly took her small, clutch-style purse, resulting in a minor cut on her finger. Another suspect removed the university student's wallet from his pants pocket.
The three suspects then ran to a vehicle located on Kershaw Street and fled the scene, police said. They are described as black men, approximately 18 to 25 years old and wearing black clothing with black hoods over their heads. The vehicle they used to flee the scene was described as an older boxy-style car, possibly a Cadillac, without any visible tags.
Newark police spokesman Lt. Mark Farrall said the similarity of the description of the suspects, proximity and time between both robberies may indicate the incidents were connected.
"We are investigating whether they are linked, but at this point we haven't determined if they are connected," Farrall said.
He said officers have observed students using objects such as rocks or cans to prop open doors at apartment complexes across Newark, which allows anyone to access the building. Residents who see door intentionally propped open this way should remove the obstruction to prevent unauthorized access to the building.
Students should be constantly aware of their surroundings and watchful of suspicious behavior while walking through Newark, Farrall said.
"We encourage students to exercise caution anytime they are traveling about the community, whether that is late at night or during the day," he said. "If they see something suspicious, they should report it to police."
Those with information about either crime should contact Detective Michael Szep at (302) 366-7110, ext. 136, or michael.szep@cj.state.de.us. Anonymous tips can be sent to police by texting 302NPD and the message to TIP411. A reward may be available.