September 21, 2009

Campus Safety Alert Southern Illinois University Carbondale Sept. 21, 2009

The Southern Illinois University Carbondale Department of Public Safety is investigating a strong arm robbery that occurred Monday, Sept., 21, on a foot path northwest of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute.

The robbery occurred between 8 and 8:20 a.m. A 23-year-old female SIUC student told police she was walking along the wooded area foot path toward the Wham Education Building when a man came up from behind and pushed her into a tree. The suspect ripped the victim’s pink lunch box from her arm and ran, possibly toward the James W. Neckers Building.

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately five feet, six inches tall, weighing between 200 and 225 pounds. He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt. The lunch box contained a Vera Bradley pink and brown change purse, black Nine West sunglasses, the victim’s student identification, cash, the victim’s lunch, and a cosmetic bag with prescription medication.

The victim was not injured.

Anyone with information about the incident should call the SIUC Department of Public Safety at 618/453-3771 or the Crime Stopper Line at 618/549-COPS.

Police advise members of the campus community to use Saluki Express, Night Safety Transit Service and Brightway Path when traveling at night. In addition, emergency call phones are located across campus, including on both overpasses.

For more information on safety precautions, visit the Department of Public Safety Web site at http://www.dps.siu.edu/.