Spring Break
Campus on alert after series of robberies
Noah Cohen
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: News
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Eight robberies, four involving guns, have occurred near or around Drexel's campus since Oct. 5, prompting public safety officials to increase patrol and seek assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department's Special Investigations Unit, according to Drexel's Department of Public Safety.
The most recent robberies were reported Oct. 22 in the area of 35th and Spring Garden Streets at 11 p.m. and in the area of 32nd and Mount Vernon Streets at 3:30 a.m., according to a campus wide safety alert released Oct. 23.
The alert said the three suspects in both crimes were reportedly black males between 14 and 18 years old with thin builds and close cropped hair. Two were approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, and one was closer to 5 feet 11 inches.
The suspects showed the victims a handgun and forced them to lie facedown on the ground while they searched them for valuables.
Six other robberies were reported between Oct. 5 and Oct. 18. An attempted robbery occurred Oct. 20, according to Drexel's Department of Public Safety.
Public Safety reported that the Oct. 5 and Oct. 18 robberies also involved a handgun, though the other incidents did not involve armed threats.
Officials said while they could not confirm any link between the crimes, all of the incidents involved groups of juveniles.
Frederick Carbonara, director of public safety, said he met with Benjamin Naish, commander of the Southwest Detectives to ensure that members of the city's Special Investigations Unit are assigned to the student robberies. The SIU is a group of police detectives who focus on serial crimes.
In addition to working with local police, Carbonara has brought in additional security officers from AlliedBarton and the University City District to patrol Drexel.
The officers are being assigned specifically to the Powelton Village area, according to Carbonara.
Officers from Drexel's Department of Public Safety will target the areas around Lancaster Avenue, Spring Garden Street, and Powelton Avenue in the evening and early morning hours.
No security camera footage was available of the suspects, according to James Katsaounis, executive director of Communications for the Division of Student Life and Administrative Services.
University officials advise students to stay alert and to use the Drexel walking escort service by calling (215) 895-2800.
The most recent robberies were reported Oct. 22 in the area of 35th and Spring Garden Streets at 11 p.m. and in the area of 32nd and Mount Vernon Streets at 3:30 a.m., according to a campus wide safety alert released Oct. 23.
The alert said the three suspects in both crimes were reportedly black males between 14 and 18 years old with thin builds and close cropped hair. Two were approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, and one was closer to 5 feet 11 inches.
The suspects showed the victims a handgun and forced them to lie facedown on the ground while they searched them for valuables.
Six other robberies were reported between Oct. 5 and Oct. 18. An attempted robbery occurred Oct. 20, according to Drexel's Department of Public Safety.
Public Safety reported that the Oct. 5 and Oct. 18 robberies also involved a handgun, though the other incidents did not involve armed threats.
Officials said while they could not confirm any link between the crimes, all of the incidents involved groups of juveniles.
Frederick Carbonara, director of public safety, said he met with Benjamin Naish, commander of the Southwest Detectives to ensure that members of the city's Special Investigations Unit are assigned to the student robberies. The SIU is a group of police detectives who focus on serial crimes.
In addition to working with local police, Carbonara has brought in additional security officers from AlliedBarton and the University City District to patrol Drexel.
The officers are being assigned specifically to the Powelton Village area, according to Carbonara.
Officers from Drexel's Department of Public Safety will target the areas around Lancaster Avenue, Spring Garden Street, and Powelton Avenue in the evening and early morning hours.
No security camera footage was available of the suspects, according to James Katsaounis, executive director of Communications for the Division of Student Life and Administrative Services.
University officials advise students to stay alert and to use the Drexel walking escort service by calling (215) 895-2800.
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