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Police investigating armed robberies

Dec. 14, 2010

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University public safety officers are investigating two separate armed robberies that occurred Monday, Dec. 13, between 6 and 7 p.m. in the area of the roundabout near Faunce Student Services Building on West Michigan Avenue.

Story update
Photo of robbery suspect released

The single suspect in both robberies is described as a black male, 6-feet tall, 200 pounds and medium build. He was wearing a dark blue hoody, blue jeans and a black ski mask. According to both victims, the robber was carrying a black handgun. The suspect is still at large.

Photo of WMU roundabout on West Michigan Avenue.The victims of the assaults, a man and a woman, were unharmed. Both robberies took place in well-lit areas near the roundabout (pictured left at night).

Additional police and patrols of campus will be added through the rest of the week. Fall semester ends Saturday. Anyone with information about the incidents should contact WMU Public Safety at (269) 387-5555.

Students and employees who have not already registered their phone numbers in WMU's Reverse 911 Campus Alert system are urged to do so immediately by going to GoWMU and clicking WMU Alert Registration.

Students and employees also are reminded of the campus escort service available between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. by calling (269) 387-7433 (387-RIDE).

Timeline Monday, Dec. 13

The first robbery took place at 6:20 p.m. near the ATM machine at the WMU parking services building. The victim was a male WMU student. Stolen were a wallet and contents, including cash and credit cards.

The second robbery took place at 6:55 p.m. on a sidewalk near Faunce Student Services Building and the roundabout. The victim was a female WMU student walking west. Her purse and its contents were stolen.

WMU police were notified of the second robbery at about 7 p.m. The first robbery was not reported until shortly before 8 p.m.

Beginning at 8:15 p.m., campus alerts with information about the robberies and an initial description of the suspect were posted in GoWMU, the University's intranet portal, and on the WMU home page. It was sent by recorded voice message to students and employees with phone numbers registered in WMU's Reverse 911 alert system, and was also available on the University's emergency information line at (269) 387-1001.

Information on the WMU emergency home page was updated at 9:55 and 10:30 p.m. and again at 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14.

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Media contact: Thom Myers, (269) 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu

WMU News
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
(269) 387-8400
www.wmich.edu/news