Breaking: students victim of armed robbery outside Tercero dining commons

One student was punched in the face multiple times

At 4:10 a.m. on Sunday morning, UC Davis students gathered outside a car in Lot 47, a parking lot near the dining commons in the Tercero dorm area, were the victims of an armed robbery. This incident is the latest in a string of robberies that have plagued the Davis community in recent weeks, though university officials say it is unclear whether the crimes are related.

According to a police report sent to UC Davis students and staff, the suspects approached the victims, “stated they had a gun, and ordered them to ‘drop’ their property.”

“Victims saw the outline of a gun in suspect #2’s waistband,” the report stated. “Victims complied and put their property down. Suspect #1 punched one female victim in the face several times. Suspect #1 collected the victim’s property and both fled the area in a vehicle.”

Police have not yet identified the suspects and the investigation is ongoing. A description of the two suspects describes both as African American males in their mid-20s wearing black hoodies. The suspects’ vehicle is described as a Black Dodge Charger or Challenger.

Andy Fell, a news and media relations specialist for the university, said that “people should be aware” of the string of crimes that have taken place recently and take proper precautions, such as locking their doors and windows and taking care of their property.

“We think of Davis of being a pretty safe community,” Fell said. “But we have crime just like anywhere else.”

In early September, residential burglary occurred while residents slept inside at 408 Atrium Way Davis. Two laptops were stolen and the suspects entered through an unlocked door.

Two other residential burglaries occurred, at 414 Russell Park and 400 Parkway Circle, around the same time. While residents slept, suspects entered the victims’ apartment through an unlocked door or window and stole laptops and other personal items.

Most recently, there have been at least five instances of laptop robberies at coffee shops throughout Davis in which suspects quickly grab laptops from customers before running outside.

The incidents have occurred at two Peet’s Coffee locations, at 231 E Street and 1411 West Covell Blvd. and at two Starbucks locations, at 403 Mace Blvd. and a location in Dixon. Temple Coffee Roasters, at 239 G Street, was also hit.

In the case of an armed robbery, Fell says to comply with the instructions given, hand over the requested property and “don’t get yourself hurt.”

Anyone with information about this most recent robbery or any of the other recent robberies should call the UC Davis Police Department at 530-754-COPS (2677). The UCDPD will post updates about the incident, when possible, on its website.

Written by: Hannah Holzer — campus@theaggie.org