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Campus robbery suspects nabbed

Two men charged in gun hold-ups; Crime not limited to campus, lieutenant says

by Portia-Elaine Gant
Senior Staff Writer

UH police have apprehended one suspect in a series of aggravated robberies on campus, and another suspect turned himself in to police.

Patrick Foster, 19, was arrested April 1, and Anthony Mareno, also 19, surrendered April 2. Both men were allegedly involved in robbing a student in Parking Lot 18A on March 27 and another on Entrance 1 the following day, both at the point of a shotgun. A third student, approached on Entrance 1 on March 28, fled the scene without giving the robbers his wallet. Foster and Mareno were charged with aggravated robbery. Foster's bail was set at $30,000 and Mareno was denied bond.

The March crimes were followed by an April 4 robbery at the Cullen Oaks apartment complex by a man armed with a handgun and a robbery Wednesday in Parking Lot 19F. Despite those incidents, UH Police Department Lt. Rita Bazile said there isn't a concentration of crime on the campus alone.

"I'm not sure for the reason for the rash of robberies, but I'm sure it's going on all over the city of Houston," Bazile said. "Specific to the University of Houston, the two suspects had committed three of those robberies. They just kept coming back until they were apprehended."

Although there's probably no way to eliminate criminal activity on campus, there are ways to eliminate the probability of becoming a victim -- for example, not walking around the campus alone at night, Bazile said. She said the police department offers a free, 24-hour campus escort service that anyone on campus may use, and she encouraged walking in pairs or groups on campus after dark.

Bazile suggested valuables should be stored and carried out of sight so they don't entice criminals, and she said reporting dubious activity and leaving areas that seem uncomfortable or suspicious are also ways to reduce the chance of being a victim of crime.

"If you feel uncomfortable in an area or by someone who is in the area, don't proceed to the area. You can have a lot of criminal activity at night," Bazile said.

She also said vigilance is important and suggested people on campus become familiar with the locations of emergency call boxes.

"You don't have to stay in the area, especially if it's a safety issue. You can go to another call box and report it to the campus police," Bazile said.
 

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