Date/Time Occured
09/18/2019 at 12:00 AM
Specifics
At approximately 12 a.m. on September 18, two non-Washington University-affiliated people had just parked their car in the rear of an apartment building in the 5900 block of Delmar, near Hamilton Ave. As they exited their vehicle, three subjects wearing surgical masks approached them, displayed a handgun, and demanded their property. The subjects then entered the person's car and drove away, last seen heading north on Hamilton Ave.
The incident was reported to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD).
At 12:30 a.m., the roommate of one of the victims in this incident, who is a Washington University graduate student, contacted WUPD and reported that her car key had been in her roommate's purse, which was stolen during the carjacking. When WUPD officers arrived to assist the student, it was discovered that her vehicle had been stolen from the parking lot. SLMPD determined that the subjects had stolen the vehicle shortly after the carjacking, and had left the area.
No injuries were reported.
Response
Note: This incident occurred outside of the Washington University Police Department (WUPD) patrol zone, which is our standard parameter for distributing crime-related notifications. Because of recent criminal activity in the area, and because it involves a Washington University graduate student, we are sending this Security Memo out of an abundance of caution, to keep our community informed. You can view the WUPD patrol zone on the WUPD website.
Precautions
• Avoid walking or jogging alone and never walk or jog alone after dark. Choose a well-lit path and avoid dark or vacant areas.
• Carry a whistle to summon help.
• Download the Noonlight Safety App.
• Be alert to your surroundings. 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.
• 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.