The Belmont Vision

ISSUE: 09/13/07 > News > Security Alerts

Two Belmont students were victims of an armed robber who is believed to have struck four times in the Belmont-Green Hills area Friday, Sept. 7.

The suspect, according to witnesses, is a tall, black male with tightly braided hair. He was dressed in a white tank top with blue jeans and wore a red bandana, appearing to be in his 20s.

After the robberies, some reports say he got into a small, four door white car with two other black males, but others say he fled on foot.

In two other incidents that occurred on campus, Belmont Campus Security detained the suspects and they were arrested.

Also on Sept. 7, an office worker in Fidelity returned from the corridor to find a man hiding under her desk, going through her purse. He left the scene, but later in the day Campus Security responded to several tips reporting a suspicious man around campus, and he was arrested.

“We believe he was the same man who was seen in Fidelity,” Renee Ruthven, Campus Security crime prevention officer, said.

In another incident Aug. 30, a wallet was taken from Valerie Cooper, who works in the provost’s office in Barbara Massey Hall. The man was arrested the same day after being cornered in a restroom in the Curb Event Center. The same man was also found to have stolen bikes on Vanderbilt University’s campus.

“The important thing for students to remember is that if you see somebody who doesn’t look like they ought to be on campus, they probably shouldn’t be. Call us,” Ruthven said.

She said the Massey suspect was arrested because several people on other areas of campus called as they spotted the man who, they said, “seemed out of place.”

Ruthven said, “Trust your instincts. You can usually tell if someone is up to no good.”

Another caution she offered is to keep apartments and residence hall rooms locked both when you’re away and when you’re inside. In another recent incident, two unlocked Hillside apartments were also entered by a man asking for someone who did not live there. The man was not apprehended, but Campus Security reported that they have a suspect in those incidents.

The suspect is a tall, black male with tightly braided hair. He was dressed in a white tank top with blue jeans and wore a red bandana, appearing to be in his 20s. After the robberies, some reports say he got into a small, four door white car with two other black males while others say he fled on foot.

Those with information about the Belmont-Green Hills robberies or other incidents are asked to call the Office of Campus Security at x6617 or, if they wish to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers at 742-7463.

Sept. 13 , 2007