A female Tufts student was the victim of an unarmed robbery on the corner of College Avenue and Dearborn Road on Wednesday night, according to the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD).
As the woman walked near Anderson Hall at around 10:45 p.m., a man allegedly seized her book bag and knocked her down. The incident occurred as the student was talking on her cell phone, TUPD said in an alert e-mailed to the Tufts community. The message also noted that after the crime, the suspect ran down Dearborn Road in the direction of Boston Avenue.
The victim was uninjured, according to the e-mail.
The suspect remains at large, and the robbery is the subject of an active investigation, TUPD Capt. Mark Keith told the Daily. He added that nothing of value was taken.
"We have been in contact with Somerville police, who are also investigating," Keith said.
According to a description provided to TUPD by the victim, the suspect is a 5'6" white male in his early 20's, with a thin build. He was described as wearing dark pants, which may have been jeans, and a navy blue baseball hat.
Keith said that it is not clear whether the suspect is a Tufts student.
TUPD informed the community relatively rapidly after the crime occurred, sending the e-mail alert shortly after midnight. The speed of notification was markedly faster than that of recent alerts; the last two crime-related alerts came over a day after those respective incidents.
"We got the alert out as quickly as possible last night," Keith said yesterday.
Anyone with information about the alleged crime is encouraged to contact TUPD at 617-627-3030, or 7-3030 if using an on-campus phone. The police safety escort service is also available to students and employees.
"We encourage students — particularly at late hours — that they avail themselves to the escort service, particularly if they're walking alone," Keith said.
