Two robberies occurred in about one hour’s time Tuesday, and the suspect from the first robbery was last seen running in the direction of the second, according to Capt. Drew Buske of Public Safety.

Descriptions of the suspects from each robbery are not similar enough to determine whether there was one robber, but not different enough to rule the idea out, Buske said. They are both being addressed separately.

At about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, a male student walking on the path between the tennis courts and the Women’s Building was approached from behind by an unknown male who placed a blunt object to the victim’s back, Buske said. The suspect demanded the student’s wallet, obtained it and ran away with it in a westerly direction.

Public Safety has received no leads from witnesses, though the robbery was in an area with heavy traffic, Buske said. It was also located near a blue light.

At about 1:30 p.m. the same day, a temporary employee of the Veterans Administration Medical Center was approached by an armed man in the Stadium Place parking lot, Buske said. The suspect demanded money from the victim’s wallet and ran away in a westerly direction.

The first victim described the suspect as male, black, approximately 6 feet tall, medium build, 160 to 170 pounds, wearing a black ski mask, a dark green North Face coat, dark blue jeans and black lug boots, according to a SU News Alert.

The second victim described the suspect as male, black, about 30 years of age, approximately 5-foot-11, medium build, 170 to 180 pounds, unkempt beard and medium skin tone, according to another SU News Alert.

Public Safety didn’t hear of the first robbery until about 8 p.m. Tuesday, when the victim called after the fact, Buske said. Public Safety didn’t hear of the second robbery until 4 p.m., when it was reported to the Syracuse police.

Published on February 20, 2007 at 12:00 pm