By Erin Shanahan
Fordham Public Safety, as well as the NYPD, conducted a canvass of the area where the two robberies took place. (Fordham Ram archives)
Two Fordham students were robbed in separate incidents last night occurring just five minutes apart for one another and within close proximity. The incidents occurred around 7:50 p.m. on Monday, March 14. Both Fordham students described the assailants as six foot tall teenagers dressed in dark colored clothes.
The first incident occurred on East 191 Street, right outside of the Fordham Rose Hill gate. At 7:50 p.m., an 18-year-old female student was walking westbound in front of Pugsleys Pizza. There, two men walking eastbound on the same street accosted her. The two assailants demanded her property as they grabbed her by the neck and pressed an object into her side. They then fled with her iPhone.
Just five minutes later in front of 2503 Hughes Avenue, two male assailants also robbed a 21-year-old male Fordham student. A knife was presented to the Fordham student and his wallet and iPhone were taken. The assailants then ran west down Arthur Avenue.
Neither of the students were injured during the robberies.
A canvass of the area was conducted by the Fordham Public Safety supervisors and NYPD officers who responded to the scenes. Currently, the robberies are being investigated by the 48th Precinct Detective Squad.
In addition to the university’s alert, the NYPD had a strong presence in the area for the rest of the evening as well as the next day.
CBS local news reported on the incidents as well. Several students were interviewed the next day outside of Pugsleys Pizza on East 191 Street where the first incident occurred.
These two robberies mark the sixth theft reported by Public Safety at Rose Hill since Jan. 1, 2016.
Fordham Public Safety officials are reminding students to stay alert when they are traveling outside of the campus. In addition, officials urge students to avoid displaying valuable items, such as cell phones, in public.
