January 30, 2008

Campus Safety Alert Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Southern Illinois University Carbondale police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at 7:59 p.m., Monday, Jan. 28, on the east end of the south pedestrian overpass above U.S. Highway 51.

A 20-year-old SIUC student told police he was walking east on the south overpass when two black males walking west approached at the area where the south overpass splits. After the men passed, the victim said he turned around and one of the suspects was standing behind him.

The second suspect displayed what appeared to be a black handgun and asked the victim for his belongings. The suspects took the victim’s keys, wallet, and cell phone, and ran off the overpass and headed north.

The victim was not injured.

Both suspects are described as being in their late teens to early 20s.

One suspect is described as five feet, seven inches to five feet, nine inches tall. He was wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt or jacket.

The second suspect, who had the gun, is described as 5 feet, eight inches to five feet, ten inches tall, average build, medium to dark complexion, with short close-cut hair. He was wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt or jacket, with bright colored markings on the shoulders and hood.

There is no indication that this armed robbery is connected with an armed robbery of a pizza delivery man that occurred at 10:55 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 26, near the Boomer residence hall.

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/.