Student robbed in Fine Arts computer lab

IU police report a female IU student was robbed Sunday at knife point. The student called police to report the robbery, which took place at about 2:15 a.m. in room 215 of the Fine Arts Building computer lab. \nAccording to the police report the suspect is a white male in his early twenties, about 5'5'' and 150 lbs, with blue eyes. At the time of the robbery, he was wearing a tan hooded sweatshirt, light blue jeans and was carrying a gray backpack. The hood of his sweatshirt was tied tightly around his head so as not to show his hair. Police reported that the suspect entered the computer lab where the victim was working and asked her if she had seen where another individual had gone when he left the lab. The report said the victim then said that she did not, but that he had left a few minutes earlier. The suspect stated that the other individual was a friend of his and he was supposed to meet him there. The victim stated to the police that a few minutes after the first encounter, the subject walked up behind her and stood about 12 inches away from her. The subject then stated that he was "going to grab her bag." She asked him why, the report said, and the suspect stated that he was, "broke and needed money to pay his rent." The report said he then told her that this was the "first time he had committed a crime, but he needed money," and "if you don't give me your bag, I will have to do this in a harsh way." He then displayed what she believed to be a knife. At that time, police report the victim gave the subject $20 in cash and told him that was all she had. \nLt. Jerry Minger of the IUPD said a composite of the suspect has been given out to all IUPD officers and all campus residence halls. The department has also put extra patrols in the areas of campus computer labs. Minger added that this robbery is an example of why faculty and students should be particularly careful on campus during summer months.\n"During summertime there are many people who wander campus looking for crimes of opportunity," he said. \nMinger said it is important for campus crime prevention that people report suspicious-looking individuals immediately so they can be checked out by the authorities. \n"Some people are hesitant to call because they think it's going to be an invasion of that person's privacy for one reason or another," he said. "...If anyone looks suspicious or looks like they're doing anything suspicious at all, just call the police. Call in immediately. That's really the only way that we can do our job and keep the community safe -- if the people who live here help us." \nAnyone that believes they were a witness to this crime or thinks they may have information that would assist in the investigation is asked to contact the Investigations Section of the IU Police Department at (812) 855-3075 or send an e-mail to iupd@indiana.edu.