Date/Time Occured
09/07/2019 at 11:35 PM
Specifics
At approximately 11:35 p.m., there were three robberies in a short length of time and in close proximity to each other in the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood. These incidents are similar in nature to an incident that occurred at 2 a.m. on September 6 involving a Washington University student. In that incident, the student was approached by two male subjects who displayed a handgun, punched the student, and took his personal property before leaving the scene in a vehicle.
The first robbery on September 7 involved two Washington University students. The students were walking near Westminster Place and Laurel when two male subjects approached them. The subjects displayed a handgun and took the students’ personal property. The subjects then fled to a nearby parked vehicle and drove away from the area.
The second robbery took place in the 5800 block of Pershing. The subjects’ actions were similar to those of the first robbery, however, the victim was not affiliated with Washington University.
The third robbery took place in the 6000 block of Pershing. Two subjects approached a Washington University graduate student who was seated in his vehicle with the car window open. One of the subjects punched the student through the window, opened the door of the vehicle and took the student’s personal property. The subjects then fled to a nearby parked vehicle and drove away from the area.
Response
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is actively investigating all four incidents. WUPD has increased patrols with additional officers in the neighborhood to provide safety escorts for students walking to their apartments after parking their cars.
Precautions
• Be alert to your surroundings. Do not sit in your car to text or use electronic devices, and be observant while walking. If you suspect you are being followed, run in a different direction; go to the other side of the street and yell or whistle for help; or head quickly to a lighted area, a group of people, or business.
• Download the Noonlight Safety App and activate before leaving your vehicle and while walking to your destination. This will allow you to immediately notify law enforcement and provide your exact location if needed.
• Carry a whistle to summon help.
• Be extra cautious if someone approaches you or your vehicle and asks for information or if someone asks to use your cell phone.
• If you are confronted by a thief, give them what they want and don’t chase them as they leave. Report suspicious persons or activity immediately to the Police.
• Consider using the Campus2Home Shuttle Service or Metro’s public transportation system. For more information visit the Transportation Options page at transportation.wustl.edu.