Two separate Notre Dame students were the victims of similar robberies Tuesday evening, according to an email Thursday from Notre Dame Security Police (NDSP) sergeant Tracy Skibins.
The email stated both robberies occurred off campus, one near 1200 N. Eddy Street and the other “in the 1000 block of N. Notre Dame Ave.”
In both incidents, a suspect approached the victim and hit the victim in the face.
"Both victims had their cell phone taken," the email stated. “In one of the incidents the suspect asked the victim for the time before striking the victim in the face. In the other incident the suspect also exchanged words before assaulting the victim and stealing the phone.”
According to the email, there were two suspects involved in each robbery. The email described the suspects in both cases as “young, 12-15 years of age, black male [and] 4’6”-5’ tall.”
“One suspect had dreadlocks and the other suspect had short black hair,” the email stated. “One wore a red sweatshirt; the other one was wearing a gray sweatshirt. The suspects fled on foot in both incidents.”
The email also referred to a separate report of “theft by deception,” in which a suspect impersonating a member of the police department approaches students and requests money in return for overlooking minor violations.
“A separate investigation has revealed that a suspect may be approaching people on the edges of campus claiming to be working for a police department and threatening fines for violations like minor possession/consumption of alcohol,” the email stated. “The suspect then offers to overlook the violation if the victim will give the suspect a smaller amount of money.”
The email asked students to contact NDSP if they have any information regarding the incidents.
“If this has happened to you or someone you know, please contact NDSP at 574-631-5555,” the email stated. “Your information may help us stop the suspect from doing this to others.”
