Police Step Up Patrols After String Of Robberies Near Rutgers
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A string of weekend robberies is prompting increased security in and around the Rutgers University campus.
Police said they don't know if the three incidents are related. All happened either near the College Avenue Campus or the Cook/Douglass Campus in New Brunswick between 1:10 and 3:10 a.m Saturday, WCBS 880's Ginny Kosola reported.
A suspect punched two men, robbed them and then fled in an incident on Mine Street in New Brunswick which occurred at 2:45 a.m. Saturday, police said.
"Two cops arrived and when they went to approach the guy he took off around the corner," one person, told CBS2's Steve Langford.
Minutes later another man was approached by two suspects on the corner of Nicol and Handy. According to police, the suspects pulled guns and robbed the man before running away.
Earlier that day, another man was robbed by two suspects -- one with a gun -- on Morrell Street.
Neighbors say crime on and near this corner is all too frequent.
"My roommate had her car broken into, like a couple of weeks back all of her stuff was stolen," Sabrina Van Vliet, a Rutgers student, said.
These latest reported robberies come amid a series of similar crimes in and around Rutgers in recent months.
Patrick Devinick said two men with a rife got into his apartment in February and held up his roommate and him. The latest armed robberies shows little has changed, Devinick said.
"They shouldn't have to wait until after this happens to deal with it."
Rutgers and New Brunswick police have beefed up patrols in three precincts.
There have been 17 incidents prompting Rutgers crime alerts this semester. There was a triple stabbing on campus, and several football players were arrested and charged with violent crimes.
