Gunpoint robberies heighten fears

A string of six gunpoint robberies in the University Heights three weeks ago left students shocked and police baffled as the search for two suspects continued through the start of spring semester.

According to the Buffalo Police Department, five of the robberies occurred Sunday, Jan. 2 between 7:30 and 8 p.m. within a five-block vicinity, which officials called highly unusual.

"It's very unusual for a string of robberies like that to happen in one night, even for the city of Buffalo," said John Grela, UB's director of public safety. "Robberies aren't a common occurrence to begin with."

In 2004 there were seven robberies at UB, down from 12 robberies in 2003, Grela said. He said that such statistics include robberies on both campuses and in University Heights.

Rumors of the Heights robberies spread quickly and raised fears among the thousands of students who live in the area, especially because one of the robberies took place on South Campus grounds, in Townsend Lot.

"I don't want to walk down the street and get mugged," said Patricia Arend, a sophomore business major. "It's just scary to think that these guys are out there and that they might go on another robbing spree."

"As a female I'm especially concerned for my safety," said Sarah Goldberg, a freshman undecided major. "Getting mugged or raped is a valid concern, especially in a city like Buffalo, where crime isn't all that uncommon. I don't walk around South Campus too much, but I'll definitely be going with friends if I go down there anytime soon."

Other students said they aren't any more concerned about South Campus crime than they were before.

"I wouldn't say I'm any more concerned about it. It's just a reminder to be on the cautious side when out at night, make sure you are in groups, and all that other after school special stuff," said Justin Touretz, a junior English and media study major. "I think if you're aware of your surroundings you'll be all right."

Buffalo Police said Tuesday that anywhere between one and three men committed the winter break robberies. Although there are still no suspects, officials said they believe the same people committed most of the holdups.

"It was probably a crack head who needed money for his habit," said Chief Mark Antonio, chief of Buffalo's E and C districts.

The victims of the first robbery, on New Year's Day, were two men visiting from the Rochester area around Main Street, about three blocks outside of South Campus. According to reports, at 11:30 p.m. three men armed with a shotgun approached them and stole $360.

The next night, a man standing in front of his Custer Street home was approached at about 7:20 p.m. by a man who displayed a shotgun, demanded money and stole $50, according to police.

Travis Dreggs, the victim of the Custer Street robbery, said the crime was unexpected and shocking.

"You never think it'll happen to you, you never do," Dreggs said. "I moved from the country, where nothing happens, to this city, where you hear the Twin City ambulances speeding up the street almost hourly."

"I was aware of the crime in Buffalo, but I honestly didn't think it'd happen to me," he added. "Since then, I walk out the door of my house and look up and down the street to see if anybody's walking out there. For a week after I got robbed, I wouldn't even walk on the street alone."

Ten minutes later, another man walking across South Campus was robbed of $3 in the same fashion.

Grela said as a result of the crimes, UB police have increased patrols on South Campus and posted signs that describe the robbery and the two suspects.

"Whenever we have an incident like this that affects an area in the vicinity of the campus, we try to put up a warning," Grela said.

The other robberies took place on Merrimac Street, Minnesota Avenue and Lisbon Avenue, where a mix of students and community residents were robbed of whatever petty cash they had on them.

While armed robberies aren't common around UB campuses, Grela said he encourages students walk in pairs or groups, never alone, and that they should seek shelter, such as a store or their car, if they see a large group of people they don't know.

Grela added if a student is involved in a robbery, they should not put up a struggle.

"Any resistance might result in the use of a weapon or force, and getting $50 stolen isn't worth getting hurt," Grela said. "If you're a victim, just try to get a good description, make note of their last direction of travel, and call the cops."