2 robbed during weekend

A student and an IU employee were victims of two separate armed robberies within a span of 20 minutes early Sunday, IU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger said. No arrests have been made.\nMinger said IUPD is investigating the incidents separately but considers it possible that the same person committed both crimes or that two robbers were together.\nEric Halicki, a graduate student, was returning to Evermann Apartments after walking a friend home, Minger said. Phillip Sloffer, a piano tuner, was preparing to enter the Music Building through its east entrance.\nBoth had their wallets stolen by a man with a gun.\nHalicki was robbed at about 4:50 a.m. at Seventh Street and Jordan Avenue, Minger said. As Halicki was walking north and approaching the intersection, a man crossed the street and revealed a dark, semi-automatic pistol, according to police. \nMinger said Halicki threw the man his wallet. The man then walked north toward Wright Quad, and Halicki ran to Delta Gamma sorority, 105 N. Jordan Ave., to call IUPD, Minger said.\nAccording to police reports, Halicki described his assailant as a black man, early to mid-20s, medium complexion, between 6-foot and 6-foot-2-inches tall, with a mustache and facial hair, wearing a gray-hooded sweatshirt, a dark coat and dark jeans.\nMinger said IUPD received the call at 4:56 a.m., and responded to the scene and to the north of the scene, where they believed the robber was headed. As the report was taken, the second robbery was called in, at 5:12 a.m., Minger said.\nMinger estimated that Sloffer was robbed at about 5:09 a.m. at the Music Building. As Sloffer prepared to enter the building, he heard a man say, "Don't turn around. Give me your wallet," Minger said. Sloffer turned around and saw a black semi-automatic pistol pointed at him. The man placed the barrel of the gun behind Sloffer's head and repeated his order, according to police reports. Sloffer gave the man his wallet, and the man ran south toward Third Street.\nSloffer described the man as a black man, early to mid-20s, dark complexion, 6-foot tall, 170 pounds, wearing thick, dark-rimmed glasses, a black baseball or stocking cap, baggy, black pants and a black leather jacket with lettering on the back, according to police reports.\nMinger said IUPD searched the area in which the robberies occurred, turning up nothing. Minger said both victims will be interviewed again this week.\nIncidents of armed robbery are not common on campus, Minger said. The last armed robbery on campus was in 1998, he said.\n"The campus is pretty safe, but that doesn't mean people shouldn't use caution," Minger said.\nMinger said victims of armed robbery should comply with their assailant, turning over cash or valuables, while observing for details to assist police if they're in a position to do so.\n"Give them your wallet and let them go," Minger said.\nUniversity spokeswoman Susan Dillman said statistics show armed robbery is not a frequent incident on campus.\n"We are very concerned about this," Dillman said. "We hope the police are successful in finding the culprit or culprits."\nMinger says anyone who feels they may have been a witness to these incidents or has information which may assist the police is asked to call IUPD at 855-4111.