A student resident of Lambeth Field Apartments was the victim of an attempted robbery last night while walking home in the Colonnades.
The student, who was walking alone while listening to his mp3 player, was confronted by three black males. The student fled to Lambeth Commons, where the police arrived a few minutes later. The suspects were described as high school-aged and between five feet, seven inches and five feet, 10 inches tall in an e-mail sent by Lambeth's head resident to community members.
No suspects have been apprehended and the incident remains under investigation as of press-time, according to Captain Michael Coleman of the University Police. This is the second criminal incident to occur in the past few weeks at the Lambeth Field residence area.
"We're taking a look at the area to see if we can reduce those kinds of incidents," Coleman said, noting that it is unclear if this is an isolated incident or part of a larger trend.
Resident staff responded by following up with the individual and by e-mailing members of the Lambeth community. The Lambeth Area Council is coordinating a safety meeting in conjunction with residence staff in order to give students the opportunity to voice their concerns, according to Stephanie Austin, the area coordinator for suites and apartment communities.
"One of the most important things is to recognize what [students] can control, to go ahead and take control of those things and to understand that safety is a community responsibility," Austin said. "We all have to work together to make this place as safe as we can."
Austin recommended that students keep their windows and doors locked and try not to walk alone at night.
For many students, this kind of situation seems unavoidable.
"I don't think I'm going to be able to avoid walking alone," said fourth-year College student William Barratt, a Lambeth resident. "I'm not going to let it slide, it's a little too close to home, and it's a place where I often walk just by necessity. Hundreds of other people are in the same situation."
Barratt expressed a desire for greater police presence in the area but remained concerned that the acts were committed by local residents rather than by University students.
"That people feel that they can attack students at 11 at night is way over the line in terms of what you think the police should be able to provide in terms of security," he said. "The bigger danger is not ourselves but the people who are going to come in and commit crimes against us."
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