By Michael Byrne 

Three robberies and two attempted robberies which involved Fordham students as victims occurred off campus the weekend of Oct. 22 according to multiple reports from the Office of Public Safety.

On Saturday Oct. 22 at 1 p.m. a student and Fordham alumnus were walking on Belmont Avenue when the suspect approached them coming from the other direction. The assailant asked the men for the time, then indicated he had a gun in his jacket pocket and stole $40 and an iPhone from the alumnus.

On Sunday Oct. 23 at 3:45 a.m., a student standing on Hoffman Street near Blue Goose Tavern was approached by a group of men, one of which struck him on the head. The student fell to the ground and the men stole $60 and the student’s iPhone. The student was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital.

One attempted robbery happened on Oct. 23 at 2:40 p.m. at 189th Street. A student was walking when the suspect approached the student from behind and pushed an object against the student’s back. The student fled the scene unharmed.

Another attempted robbery occurred on Oct. 23 at 7:05 p.m. when a man followed a student on 189th Street. The man had his hand in his jacket pocket simulating a gun and asked the student for his money. The student fled the scene and the suspect ran the other way.

Neil Patel, FCRH ’17, was the victim of another robbery on Oct. 23 at 9:24 p.m. According to Patel, when he and his roommate were on the corner of 188th Street and Lorillard Place a man approached them and asked them for their money and phones. Another man approached them telling them to comply. “I gave him my phone and my wallet and they just strolled off,” Patel said. “I guess the scariest part was that it was literally next to our house. We were about to cross the street to go in…we just ran inside and called 911 immediately.” Patel and his friend reported the incident to the NYPD, but they were unable to find the suspects around the area. Patel’s wallet was later found on Arthur Avenue.

Three separate emails were sent to Fordham students alerting them of the various incidents. A fourth email detailing suggestions on how to stay safe off-campus was also sent out. The email recommends that students use local Ram Vans that run from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. when off campus and download the Trans Loc app, which shows the location of the van, and the Fordham Safety app, which allows students to send messages to Public Safety.

According to John Carroll, vice president of Public Safety, all of the incidents, except the one on Oct. 23 at 3:45 a.m., are connected. “They’re all the same M.O., all in the general area,” Carroll said. “This is a good example of what crime really is. A lot of people think the neighborhood is awash with crime, but it isn’t. These are two criminals that are taking advantage of opportunity.”

The incidents occurred on Fordham’s Family Weekend, but Carroll says that did not play a role in the crimes. “Thankfully, this didn’t happen to families,” Carroll said.

Christopher Rodgers, dean of students at Rose Hill, commented that Public Safety is making sure students know what precautions to take in the area. “Our staff has reached out to the students involved in these incidents to make sure they are alright and to offer support and services,” Rodgers said. “As always, our Department of Public Safety’s advice is excellent: we urge our students to use our shuttle service after hours, stay aware of their surroundings, stay to well-travelled avenue, and walk in groups—especially late at night.”

Patel said that he will be more aware when he is walking off-campus from now on, but it won’t keep him from enjoying the area. “After spending time here, I’m very comfortable in the community, I never had any altercations or issues and I never really saw that happening,” Patel said. “I’m more cautious now and I’m thinking about my surroundings more.”