News Release

CHAPEL HILL – A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill housekeeper reported being robbed early Friday morning (Jan. 20) on Park Place, police said.

While riding his red and white Honda moped from East Franklin Street onto Park Place at around 4:40 a.m., the male victim was followed by two black males in a 1980s Chevrolet or Ford, according to a UNC police report.

The vehicle was described as a blue or gray, two-door model that may have damage to the passenger-side door. The suspects’ vehicle pulled in front of the victim, causing him to fall, police said. One suspect then exited the vehicle, pushed the victim down to the ground and took the victim’s moped, helmet and wallet. That suspect was described as clean-shaven, wearing a white sweater and blue jeans. No descriptions were provided of the other suspect, who remained in the vehicle. The victim did not require medical treatment.

UNC police asked anyone with information concerning this case to call the department at (919) 962-8100 or Chapel Hill-Carrboro-UNC CrimeStoppers at (919) 942-7515. Callers to CrimeStoppers are neither asked to reveal their identity nor appear in court.

Public safety officials urged the university community to use caution and follow the following safety tips:

· Don't walk alone at night. Use the buddy system. Walk in well-lit areas of campus.

· Report suspicious activity by calling 911 or by using emergency call boxes located across campus.

· Use UNC's Point-to-Point Express service, free to students, operating between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. daily. Access UNC's free Point-to-Point demand service by calling (919) 962-7867 (962-P-TO-P) and providing one's UNC personal identification number. The service is available to UNC students, faculty and staff at locations not served by the P2P Express Route or after normal P2P Express service hours.

· Use Chapel Hill Transit, free to all passengers. Web site: www.chtransit.org.

· Use the free Safe Ride Program, serving parts of campus, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro from 11:15 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Web site: www.unc.edu/saferide.

For more safety tips and updates, visit www.dps.unc.edu.

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Public Safety contact: Randy Young, (919) 962-1502
News Services contacts: Lisa Katz, (919) 962-2093