MINNEAPOLIS — Police are warning the public about two strong-arm robberies at the same location near the University of Minnesota campus this week.
Both happened near the Carlson School of Management.
The most recent happened Thursday at about 8:45 p.m. on the northeast corner of 19th Avenue South and 4th Street South. Police say two men riding bicycles approached the victim and punched them in the head. They knocked the victim to the ground, kicked them, and stole their cell phone, according to police.
The suspects then rode away on their bikes, police say.
In the other incident, Tuesday morning at about 2:30 a.m., police say two male suspects pushed a victim to the ground and stole their wallet and cell phone. The incident occurred near the same location, just south of the intersection of 19th Avenue South and Riverside Avenue South.
No one is in custody yet. Anyone with information is asked to call 612-624-COPS.
University of Minnesota Chief of Police Matt Clark says they see crime tick up when classes start. Still, he says on a campus with about 80,000 people, they average about 15 to 25 violent crimes a year, relatively low.
"When you compare that to the city of Minneapolis, with 400,000 people [and] over 3,000 violent crimes, we're very, very low, " Clark said.
To help keep crime down, they're adding ten more full-time security officers.
"These security officers will be checking doors, walking through our buildings, especially when they're closed, and providing additional escorts for anybody that wants them," Clark said.