A woman was robbed at gunpoint and had her purse stolen shortly after getting off work Saturday night near Hartwick Road and Yale Avenue, according to police.
According to a crime alert issued to the university community, the incident occurred at about 11:30 p.m. while the victim, who is not a student, was walking to the College Park Metro Station. After passing Hartwick and Yale, a man approached the woman from behind and asked for a cigarette and lighter.
As the woman reached into her pocket, the man pulled out a handgun. He then took the victim’s purse and fled toward Route 1. The victim also said she saw the man turn north onto Yale Avenue.
According to the crime alert, the victim left work about 11 p.m. She made a withdrawal at a Bank of America, then went to the 7-Eleven on Knox Road just before the robbery occurred.
University Police Spokesperson Paul Dillon, who prepared the crime alert, as well as Prince George’s County Police, could not be reached for comment.
Saturday night’s robbery is one of several crimes in the area this semester.
The morning of Feb. 28, a junior was robbed by three men on his way home from the Thirsty Turtle in the 7500 block of Princeton Avenue.
On March 3, three Maryland seniors were the victims of an attempted armed robbery near the intersection of Hartwick and Princeton, one street away from Yale Avenue.
A car pulled up to the students and two males stepped out and attempted to rob them. One of the students was struck with a baseball bat.
According to students who live near the corner of Princeton and Hartwick, a man was seen kicking sideview mirrors of cars two hours after that attempted armed robbery.
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