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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          NEWS SERVICES
210 Pittsboro Street, Campus Box 6210
Chapel Hill, NC  27599-6210
(919) 962-2091   FAX: (919) 962-2279
 www.unc.edu/news/

 NEWS

For immediate use

Feb. 19, 2003 -- No. 104

Armed robbery suspects in custody, but police offer safety reminders

CHAPEL HILL -- Two suspects in connection with an armed robbery reported on campus early today (Feb. 19) are in police custody and investigations are continuing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill police said.

Chapel Hill police have the suspects in custody on unrelated charges. UNC police plan to file charges in connection with the campus robbery later today, said UNC Police Maj. Jeff McCracken.

No shots were fired, and no injuries were reported in the incident, which occurred at about 1 a.m. in the parking lot behind Nash Hall, off Pittsboro Street between the building and Wilson Street.

A 28-year-old student reported being robbed at gunpoint, by one suspect, of a large handbag, which contained a video camera and case, audio and video recordings, a debit card and an identification card, McCracken said. After the suspect left the scene, the student immediately called 911. Both Chapel Hill and UNC Police responded.

In light of the incident, McCracken reminded members of the campus community to observe the following safety tips:

  • Be alert. Pay attention to your surroundings. Avoid areas that are isolated, dimly lit or dark. Don't walk alone at night.

  • Stay in pairs or groups. Use the buddy system.

  • Report suspicious activity by calling 911 or using emergency call boxes on campus.

  • Use Chapel Hill Transit, now free to all passengers, and its expanded university and community service. Use the Point-to-Point express service, free to students, which follows a fixed route among posted stops.

  • Use the new Safe Ride Program, offering free bus service from downtown to select off-campus locations from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. For Safe Ride details, click here or call UNC student Anup Dashputre, program director, at 260-1711.

For additional safety information, click to www.dps.unc.edu.

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UNC police contact: Maj. Jeff McCracken, (919) 966-4994
News Services contact: L.J. Toler, (919) 962-8589