Police Warn Of String Of Robberies Near University Of Chicago
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A slew of armed robberies near the University of Chicago campus has put students on alert.
There have been at least 10 holdups in a little more than two months on or near the school's Hyde Park campus.
The most recent holdup happened early Monday, on the 6100 block of South Ellis Avenue. That victim wasn't hurt, but was forced to hand over his computer and phone to the gunman.
The robberies started on Sept. 7, near 54th and Ellis. In a span of less than an hour, four university students were robbed by two suspects who implied they had a handgun.
Then, at the end of October, two suspects pulled a gun on a victim, and stole a backpack.
On Halloween, two other students walking off-campus on 54th Street were robbed by a lone gunman, who took off in a car.
Then, in the first eleven days of November, robbers struck four more times on 53rd, 54th, and 55th streets; targeting both students and faculty members.
Students and local residents said they're concerned.
Herve Amiot, a student from France, said, "When I came, I was not afraid like that. I didn't feel unsafe, but the more I see email about that, and warnings about that, the more I feel unsafe."
Local business owner Victor Sequeria said he's not surprised by the robberies, given the recent recession.
"The South Side has gone through a tough time in the last eight years. We've seen a great economic recession, now wrapping up, and opportunities that other people have seen are not necessarily seen being distributed equally here on the South Side," he said.
In four of the robberies, a gun was displayed. In six, there were two robbers.
The University of Chicago and its police department declined to comment, but both university police and Chicago Police have issued community alerts about the robberies.
