Special Crime Alert and Prevention Tips
Special Crime Alert: Robbery Not Armed Incident and Prevention Tips
The following information is provided to alert WSU students, staff and faculty, as well as area residents, about this crime incident so that they may take additional precautions in the area.
At approximately 3:20pm Friday, August 24 2012, a 21 year old female student reported she was the victim of a Robbery Not Armed incident while walking on Woodward south of W. Warren . The student stated she was talking on her cell phone, while walking southbound on the sidewalk, when an unknown male walked up to her and took her cell phone. The victim stated the subject then fled south on Woodward to Hancock, then eastbound on Hancock. An area search failed to locate the offender. The student was not injured.
Description: One unknown black male, approximately 6’0″, medium build, last seen wearing a brown tee shirt and black shorts.
NOTE: This is the third such incident, since August 6th, 2012, involving students having their cell phones snatched from their hands, by strangers, who simply walked up to them while they were talking on their cell phones. Please review the Safety Tips listed below;
The previous incidents occurred on::
August 6th, 2012, 7:05pm at Anthony Wayne Drive at Merrick
August 9th, 2012, 6:10pm at the Lodge Service Drive at Warren
Prevention Tips:
Beware of Your Surroundings:
Police Officers use this term frequently. It means nothing more than simply being aware of what is going on around you and whether or not that activity is normal and expected for the setting. If something seems strange, unusual or suspicious, you are asked to contact the WSU Police immediately at 313-577-2222. Officers will be dispatched immediately to check out the activity.
Notice Other People:
Look at the people around you, not just a momentary casual glance, but take a good look. Notice if they just glance at you (a normal reaction when making eye contact with a stranger) or if they are watching you. If you notice that they are paying more than momentary attention to you, that may be a red flag that you are about to be targeted.
Trust Your Instincts:
If someone makes you feel uneasy, trust your instincts and act accordingly. Whether indoors or out, change directions and proceed to areas where other people may be around.
Assess Your Own Vulnerability:
Strangers aren’t out to attack YOU. It is nothing personal, they are just looking for the easiest target of opportunity. Your goal, therefore, is to look like somebody who will be too much trouble to mess with. They also want to make you their victim without attracting attention from others. Make it a point, wherever you go, to stay in areas where other people are present. As soon as you enter an area where no one else is around, your guard and defenses should be on alert.
While cell phones have become an important part of our lives, they can also be a distraction, preventing us from observing what is going on around us.
Attitude:
Keep your head up and walk purposefully. Look at your surroundings and be aware of them. Headphones may give the impression that you are less aware, as well as being completely engaged in a cell phone conversation.
To reduce your chances of becoming a robbery victim, we recommend you routinely walk in areas where you can see others and others can see you.
Robbery perpetrators, like any other criminal, don’t want to be caught “in the act” of robbing someone. They prefer areas where neither potential victims or witnesses will see them. By staying in populated areas, you increase your chances of never being selected for this type of crime.
Whether you are in the city or the suburbs and you find yourself confronted by a robber, the most important thing that you can do during the incident is to prevent, if possible, any violence. Always assume the robber is armed, even if you can’t see a weapon, and act accordingly. If you are the victim of a robbery, consider these important tips:
• Get it over with quickly. Chances are if you stall, the robber will get nervous and may be more prone to violence.
• Nothing you have or own is worth getting hurt for. Valuables can be replaced, you cannot.
• Do what the robber asks, but do not volunteer to do anything more. Move quickly, but carefully to give the robber exactly what they want.
• Do not fight or try any impulsive heroics. The risks are high if the robber is armed.
• Do not volunteer to go anywhere with the robber or allow them to take you anywhere. The odds are heavily against you if you allow them to take you to a secondary crime scene where they have more privacy and more control over you.
• Do not chase the robber. Carefully note their physical description and the direction they flee in. If they have a vehicle, note it’s type, make, color, and license plate if possible.
• If you have the opportunity to flee, do so immediately. The robber wants your property most of all. Drop it or throw in one direction, then run in the opposite direction, to any area where there may be other people around.
• Call the Wayne State University Police immediately at 313-577-2222.
We also recommend you carry your cell phone on your person (on a belt clip or in your pocket), rather than in a purse or backpack. That way, if you become separated from your purse or backpack, you can still call for assistance
Crime Prevention Section
Wayne State University Police Dept.
6050 Cass Avenue
Detroit, Mich. 48202
Crime Prevention Section: 313-577-6064
EMERGENCY phone: 313-577-2222
web: http://police.wayne.edu
email: campuswatch@wayne.edu
