Aug 21 – Two similar robberies occurred during the past weekend near the Syracuse University campus. Given the details the victims gave the Syracuse Police Department, the detectives believe the robbers of both incidents are the same men, said Capt. Drew Buske of Public Safety.

In both incidents the robber was a black male in his 20s , who was wearing a red cap and red jersey and was driven away in a four-door, tan vehicle, Buske said.

‘I think there’s a high likelihood that the subject was the same in both cases,’ Buske said. ‘The Syracuse Police Department are actively pursuing this.’

The first incident occurred on Friday, Aug. 18 at about 10:45 p.m. in the rear parking lot of 335 Comstock Avenue, Buske said. The two victims were approached by an unknown male.

Buske said the victims said they thought the male lived at that location until he approached them, displaying a handgun.

He then asked them to empty their wallets, which they did, Buske said. He said no one was injured during the incident.

The robber walked away with a wallet and cell phone, got into a vehicle that was waiting for him on East Adams Street and drove away onto Ostrom Avenue, Buske said.

The second robbery occurred Sunday, Aug. 20 at about 1:50 a.m. on the 100 block of Euclid Avenue, Buske said.

The victims said they were approached by a man who was in a tan vehicle, Buske said.

Buske said the vehicle slowed to a stop and the unknown male asked the victims if they had a cigarette lighter, which they produced.

That’s when the male in the vehicle produced a handgun and asked the victims to empty their pockets, Buske said.

The victims cooperated and no one was injured, Buske said.

Buske said he hadn’t heard of any up dates, but said an anonymous community member spotted what seemed to be the robber and the vehicle in the area.

Buske said in the weeks to come, members of the community, especially students, should do the following:

Travel in groups.

Don’t approach strangers.

Don’t have contact with strangers.

Cooperate with the demands of someone if someone approaches.

Get to authorities as soon as possible.

Get the best possible description of the criminals.

Published on August 23, 2006 at 12:00 pm