NEW ORLEANS — Two groups of college-aged students were robbed at gunpoint early Sunday morning less than a block from each other.
According to NOPD, around 1 a.m. Sunday on the corner of Hillary and Zimple streets, three armed men approached three men, ages 20 and 21. The suspects were in a dark sedan and demanded the victims’ phones and wallets. The victims complied.
Then around 1:15 a.m. Sunday just about a block away on Hillary Street near Oak Street, three or four armed men in a black sedan approached three 20-year-old women and demanded their property.
Ring doorbell video captured the second armed robbery. It shows two men jumping out of a dark car while holding guns. They approach the women who scream, take their belongings, then the suspects run back to the car and speed off.
“Snake and Jake’s is there, Bruno’s is there, so we’re always hearing people walking around at night past our window so it’s scary when it’s happening right next to you sleeping,” said Tulane student Raissa Rodgers who lives on the corner of Hillary and Zimple streets.
She learned about it when Tulane police emailed students Sunday morning.
“Everyone is a little on edge,” Rodgers said.
Robert Kruebbe has lived on that corner since 2009.
“From now on I might not be able to walk my neighborhood, I might have to get in my car and go everywhere, pick up my kids everywhere, things like that. It’s definitely concerning,” Kruebbe said.
In an email, Tulane PD said patrols would increase.
“In response to several instances of armed robberies around our uptown campus in the past two weeks, Tulane University Police Department and the New Orleans Police Department have increased patrol activity in and around the Broadway corridor that borders campus,” the email reads. "We are working actively to investigate the most recent incidents, which appear to be perpetrated by the same individuals, and apprehend the suspects while also taking a proactive measures to prevent future incidents.”
“It’s definitely something we have to think about when we're walking home late at night,” said Tulane student Eliana Feinberg.
Tulane police are encouraging students to use the free shuttle service that runs until 3 a.m. or to request a Tulane police safety escort. That’s available 24/7 if within a mile of campus.
Anyone with information on the armed robberies is asked to call TUPD at 504-865-5911 or NOPD at 911.
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