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Armed robberies put UH on high alert

Two incidents might be related, UHPD says

By Matt Dulin
The Daily Cougar

The University police department is stepping up its campus patrols and is asking all students, staff and faculty to be on high alert in response to a recent string of armed robberies. 

"Weire taking this very seriously," UHPD captain Malcom Davis said.

"I encourage anyone out at night going to their car to use Cougar patrol," Davis said, referring to the 24-hour escort service.

A robbery at gunpoint last night was the third in less than a week, the second of which taking place on a Cullen Oaks parking lot.

According to the UH police departmentis report of the incident, a UH student was walking to his vehicle at the Cullen Oaks parking lot at 11:56 p.m. when a white truck occupied by four or five African-American males approached him.

One suspect stepped out of the driver side and pointed a gun at the student, demanding his property. Then a second suspect armed with a shotgun exited the truck and took the studentis backpack, money and jewelry.

The two then quickly returned to the vehicle and turned onto Cullen Blvd. 

On Monday, a similar scenario took place at parking lot 9C at 10:27 p.m., when a student was approached from behind by a gold-colored Dodge Stratus or Chrysler Intrepid. An African American male stepped out, wearing a ski mask and pointing a gun, and demanded the studentis wallet, cell phone, car keys and book bag. The ski-masked suspect returned to the car, driven by a second African American suspect.

UHPD says this incident might be related to a Saturday robbery in which the suspect was also wearing a ski mask when he approached a student in the Cullen Oaks parking lot at 8:15 p.m. The student was approached from behind and was held at gunpoint. The suspect left in a white sports utility vehicle.

Davis said the suspects probably arenit students.

"But they may know people, they may have connections on campus whoire giving them the heads up, telling them whatis going on," he said.

Davis also said that these incidents, which used to be commonplace, are fairly rare. 

"We normally donit see much of this, but when we do we take care of it," Davis said.

Cullen Oaks Apartments officials could not be reached Thursday evening for comment. 
 

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