Campus crime may be part of city trend

University Police detectives believe that Wednesday evening's robbery on the 4000 block of Walnut Street is part of a larger pattern of crime emerging in Philadelphia.

Penn Police Chief Mark Dorsey said that last night's robbery on Walnut Street that left a young female shaken seems to share key characteristics with crimes that have been committed elsewhere in the city.

He added that he kept some personnel at work late Wednesday night to devote extra resources to solving the robbery.

In addition, Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush said that she and other safety officials have been in contact with the Philadelphia Police Department's Major Crimes Unit to examine possible connections to other crimes in the city. She said the efforts have produced several promising leads.

Dorsey believes that the communication with Philadelphia Police detectives has allowed law enforcement to begin closing in on the robbers.

Penn Police Deputy Chief of Investigations Mike Morrin said that there is reason to believe that Wednesday's robbery may be linked to several that have occurred near Drexel University in recent months. Morrin has been in contact with Drexel officials, and a warrant has reportedly been issued for one suspect in the attacks near that campus.

Penn detectives are examining the possibility that this suspect or a friend may be responsible for the attack on Walnut Street.

In the incident, a 25-year-old Drexel graduate student parked her car at about 9:20 p.m. on the 4000 block of Walnut Street and retrieved several items from the vehicle's trunk. Two men demanded that she give them her purse, which she refused to do.

A struggle ensued, during which the victim was knocked to the ground and punched just below the right eye. She reportedly tried to kick her attackers and screamed, attracting the attention of several passers-by and a Penn security guard patrolling on a bike nearby. The guard reached the scene within seconds.

The two assailants and a third man fled west on Walnut Street, then north on 41st Street, where they got into an older sedan -- possibly maroon in color -- that sped west on Sansom Street past 42nd Street, where it was last seen.

The first robber is described by police as a man in his early 20s, 5 feet 10 to 11 inches tall with an average build, wearing dark clothing that included a hooded sweatshirt.

Witnesses described the second attacker as a male in his early 20s, about six feet tall with an average build, an oval-shaped face and short hair who was wearing a dark sweatshirt and lighter pants.

The victim -- who was reportedly in the neighborhood to visit her boyfriend -- did not seek medical treatment for her injuries.

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