$10,000 Reward for Information about Robbers Video reveals suspects; town hall meeting tonight at GSU

Boston University is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of one or more of the perpetrators involved in a string of armed robberies of BU students on and near the Charles River Campus. In the most recent of four such incidents since September 23, a female student was approached in the driveway of 808 Commonwealth Ave. on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. The woman told police that two assailants, who brandished a handgun, fled when they learned that she had nothing of value in her bag. There have been no injuries in any of the assaults.

Peter Fiedler, vice president for administrative services, says the reward is being offered by the University to encourage members of the community to support the efforts that are being made by the Brookline, Boston University, and Boston Police Departments.

“Based on police reports, there has been a pattern here,” says Fiedler (COM’77). “However, last night’s robbery took place on our campus. This brings the problem home, and it dramatically elevates our concern for the safety of our community. While the police are doing an excellent job, it became clear to us that it was time for the institution to enhance its support of the investigation.”

BU Police Chief Thomas Robbins says the victims in all four incidents have described the suspects as young black males between the ages of 16 and 20, all wearing hooded sweatshirts. Robbins says Brookline police have several excellent leads, including an enhanced video showing suspects on their way to and from the third robbery, on October 5. Those suspects are also believed to be involved in the second robbery.

Brookline Police Chief Daniel O’Leary says one suspect in the October 5 robbery was wearing a red sweatshirt and appeared to be wearing new Air Jordan sneakers and carrying a backpack. He also had braces on his teeth. The second suspect was wearing a gray sweatshirt with two numbers on the front, the first of which looks like a “6”. That suspect was carrying a purple backpack.

O’Leary says the suspects in the second robbery are three black males, one of whom is about 5-foot-11, and two of whom are about 5-foot-10. The taller of the men is believed to have been wearing black and silver earrings. O’Leary says a second suspect, who displayed a handgun, had dark skin and was carrying a backpack. The third suspect had short black hair and wore a dark sweatshirt. He says the suspects approached their victims with a handgun held at the suspect’s waist, and in one case asked if the victim had a cell phone.

The Brookline chief says his department has not determined if the suspects in the video were involved in the first and third robberies. He said Brookline police have been working closely and aggressively with the Boston and the BU Police Departments.

In response to the robberies, Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore has called the BU community to a town hall meeting tonight at 8 p.m. in the Metcalf Ballroom of the George Sherman Union.

“These incidents have triggered a powerful response from the community,” says Elmore (SED’87). “We’ve had multiple requests from our students and several parents to be able to discuss these incidents and the responses of the BUPD and the Brookline Police Department. I’m hoping students will bring their concerns and share them with the community.”

Elmore says Robbins and O’Leary are expected at tonight’s meeting.

The robberies began on September 23, at approximately 3 a.m., at Thorndike Street and Hamilton Road, when two BU students were robbed of an iPhone, an Android cell phone, a wallet, and $50. Two days later, three BU students were robbed at around 5 p.m. at Egmont and St. Paul Streets, and on Friday, October 5, a recent BU graduate was mugged in broad daylight just four blocks from Commonwealth Avenue. The incident took place at 5:15 p.m. at St. Paul and Thatcher Streets.

Anyone with information about the robberies is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 800-494-TIPS (8477), or text to CRIME (27463).