Crime & Safety
Cell Phone Robbery on UC Campus – Minor Injuries to Female Victim
A 19-year-old female victim suffered minor injuries early Monday evening when she was pushed down in a cell phone robbery on the University of California at Berkeley campus, police said. Berkeley has seen a spike in night cell phone robberies.
A 19-year-old female received minor injuries early Monday night when she was pushed down in a cell phone robbery on the UC Berkeley campus, according to campus police.
The assault occurred at 7:43 p.m. near the southwest corner of the Valley Life Sciences Building, UC police said in a crime alert today, Tuesday. A male passerby chased the suspected robber, who dropped the phone and fled, police said.
The robbery coincided with a Berkeley police report prepared for tonight's City Council meeting that said pedestrian robberies – led by cell phone thefts at night – jumped 35 percent for the first half of this year over the same period last year.
The female victim in the Monday night robbery, who is affiliated with UC Berkeley, "was walking along the Grinnell Path from Oxford Street while texting on her iPhone," the crime alert said.
"The victim put the phone in her pant pocket. As she neared the south side of Valley Life Sciences she felt someone run into her. The male suspect grabbed her phone from her pocket knocking her to the ground.
"The suspect fled the scene. A male passerby chased the suspect to the south side of Haas Pavilion where the suspect dropped the phone."
The phone was returned to the victim, who suffered minor injuries, police said. Campus police searched the area for the robber but did not find him.
According to police, the suspect was described as "a Black male, 20-25 years of age, 6’0” in height, with a medium build, either short hair or bald, wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt with either white or light colored markings on the front, and light colored jeans."
Anyone with information about the crime is urged to contact the UC police
Criminal Investigation Bureau at (510) 642-0472 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and at (510) 642-6760 at all other times.
Related articles:
- Berkeley Pedestrian Robberies Jump 35% This Year
- Another Robbery Near UC Berkeley
- Another Robbery: Cal Student Pushed from Behind While Walking
- Another Armed Robbery in Berkeley
- UC Student Describes Being Robbed as Bystander Stood By
- Armed Robbery at North Gate of Cal Campus
- Purse-Grab Robbery of Woman on Telegraph Ave.
- 2 Females Pushed, Robbed at Gunpoint South of UC Campus
- 2 Students Robbed at Gunpoint at UC Housing Complex
- Man, Woman Robbed at Gunpoint Near UC Campus
- 5 Robbers Take Man's Cell Phone, Wallet at Gunpoint Near Cal Campus
• Utilize the free Night Safety Services located at
http://nightsafety.berkeley.edu
• Travel with a friend or in a group
• Be alert and aware of your surroundings
• Avoid dark, vacant or deserted areas
• Use well-lit, well-traveled routes
• Dress in clothes and shoes which will not hamper movement
• Adopt an attitude of awareness and take precautions when you must walk
alone
• Dial 510-642-3333 or use a Blue Light emergency phone if you need help.
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