A University of Michigan student fell victim to another armed robbery early Sunday morning around 1 a.m. south of Central Campus near Vaughn and East University streets. The incident marks the fifth crime alert — and fourth armed robbery — released by the Division of Public Security and Safety in the last three weeks.
As reported to the Ann Arbor Police Department, the suspect, donning a red bandana, exited a dark-colored car and threatened the student with a handgun, demanding the student’s backpack before fleeing the scene. The victim was not injured.
This incident follows an almost identical report from late Friday night, in which a student reported being robbed at gunpoint by man wearing a red bandana over his face and fleeing thereafter in a dark-colored car. According to both DPSS spokesperson Diane Brown and AAPD Lieutenant Matthew Lige, it is likely that the two incidents are connected.
“It is very likely that the two [armed robberies] this weekend are linked,” Brown said.
Lige noted all victims were student pedestrians, and urged the campus community to report relevant information. A $1000 reward is being offered for the identification of the suspect.
“Four robberies have been reported in the downtown campus corridor over the past week,” Lige wrote in an interview. “A troubling trend has emerged. In every instance, the victim was walking alone when approached.”
AAPD is offering a $1000 cash reward for the identification of the suspect.