Concern in the VCU community heightened last week after two robberies occurred near the Monroe Park Campus. The robberies took place after dark on consecutive days. The first one happened Tuesday Nov. 2 on Grove Avenue, while the second occurred Wednesday Nov. 3 on Floyd Avenue.
“There may be a little bit of a pattern in that these robberies generally occur during the night hours, and there may be a mode of transportation — a vehicle used — allowing these individuals to leave the area,” said Capt. Carlton Edwards, deputy chief of patrol operations for the University Police department.
The first incident where two men took a student’s wallet occurred around 7 p.m. The suspects, described as being African-American males between 5’8″ and 5’9″ tall, reportedly used a ’90s tan-colored Honda Accord to flee the scene.
The next day three men approached a male student on Floyd Avenue between Harvie and Plum streets. In this incident, police reported that several men surrounded the student, took his backpack from his shoulder and removed his credit and bank cards. Police said these men described as African-American fled in an older white sedan.
VCU and Richmond police have increased patrols, Edwards said, and they are collaborating to apprehend those responsible for the robberies.
“Unfortunately we have this bad element like a virus on this campus or in this ‘Lower Fan Area’ if you will,” Edwards said. “At some point we’re going to have the medicine for it, and we’re going to catch them.”
Paul Timmreck, VCU’s senior vice president for finance and administration, shares Edwards’ commitment to safety throughout the community.
“I continue to believe that this is a relatively safe area,” Timmreck said. “The importance we put on the safety and security of our students is reflected by the fact that we have one of the largest university police departments in the country.”
Though Timmreck and Edwards share the opinion that VCU continues to be a safe place, Timmreck also suggested that some crime is inevitable, referring to it as “part of the human condition.”
“I don’t care whether it’s Richmond or whether it’s Virginia Beach or Norfolk, Washington, D.C., my gosh, Blacksburg or Charlottesville,” Timmreck said. “Crime is a contemporary American issue and we all have to deal with that.”
Despite these occurrences, some members of VCU’s community said they do not think of their safety at VCU as a major concern. Donald Smith, philosophy professor, said since he mainly teaches in the morning or afternoon, he leaves the campus before dark.
“If I were teaching late classes I would be slightly more concerned,” Smith said.
Tom Stevens, a first-year-theater major, said he is somewhat concerned.
“We usually stay pretty late hours at the theater, and it’s really intimidating walking back to the (parking) deck in my case,” he said.
At night, when the possibility of crime increases, Edwards said, students should walk in groups and well-lighted areas.
“Don’t put yourself in a position to be a victim,” Edwards stressed.
David Boone, a second-year-business major, agreed: “People should not go out by themselves if they’re going somewhere that is prone to violence and things of that nature.”
If approached by a potential robber, Edwards suggested that the person remember as much about the perpetrator as possible. He also emphasized giving up material things, such as a purse or money, to get out of harm’s way and keep a bad situation from escalating.
“One of the things that we recommend if anyone approaches any individual here, student or otherwise, is if someone asks you for your money give them the money,” he said. “Don’t be a hero.”
In the event that a perpetrator robs or assaults someone, the victim should pick up one of the yellow emergency-response telephones so that VCU’s police can react as quickly as possible. When VCU’s police receive a robbery or assault call, he said, they drop everything and respond to the call immediately. Even if an emergency response phone is picked up and nothing said, an officer is dispatched to determine the situation.
“Try to remain as calm as (you) can,” Edwards advised students. “Don’t wait until two or three days later to make the report-make the report immediately. The quicker we get the information, the better likelihood of us apprehending the suspect because they could conceivably still be in the area.”
Stevens views the robberies as a wake-up call.
“It should motivate them to think about their own safety, not just walking the streets at night, but in every aspect of their lives,” he said.
Edwards and Timmreck advocate utilizing the University Police escort service by calling 828-WALK. Calling this number allows a student, staff or faculty member to arrange for the police to provide a safe ride within the area.
“We always encourage our students, faculty or any visitors to use that escort service. That’s what it’s here for-to carry you from one university building to another,” Edwards said. “Or to even drop you off at your vehicle if it’s in a parking lot or parking deck.”
Timmreck, however, cautioned students about using the escort service for legitimate situations only.
“I think one thing students can do is to realize that we need to differentiate between what are called convenience escorts and security escorts,” he said. “A convenience escort would in my mind be someone that wants a ride to Ukrop’s to go grocery shopping or to the bookstore or to the Siegel Center.”