CORAL GABLES, FLA. (WSVN) - Police are actively searching for at least two suspects involved in an armed robbery of a woman on the University of Miami’s campus, Tuesday.
Police said the victim, in her 40s, was approached from behind by a hooded man and put in a chokehold by the Watsco Center, near Dauer Drive and Ponce De Leon Boulevard.
“Two individuals, we believe,” said Coral Gables Police Chief Edward Hudak. “One individual got out and approached a woman from behind, put her in a chokehold and removed some property from her purse.”
Police believe it was two people who worked together to snatch the victim’s phone and rings, then took off running south, down Ponce De Leon Boulevard.
“This is alarming and myself, I run here early mornings at about 4:30 in the morning, down the same path, so I’m gonna keep my eyes peeled,” said Isabelle Yaniz, who lives nearby.
Many UM students heard about the incident as they prepare for the fall semester. “I feel pretty safe around here, of course not after dark,” said UM student Nadia Naany.
According to authorities, although the robbery happened on UM’s campus, the woman was not a student.
“The incident occurred on UM campus,” said Hudak. “We know from the video surveillance that the vehicles and the subject left the campus. The campus is safe.”
UM student Robbie Silverberg admits that late night walking isn’t the safest. “Walking late at night sometimes can be a bit scary,” he said.
Naany said that although walking at night can be intimidating, help isn’t far away. “There’s the UM police around here that surrounds the area most of the time,” she said, “and whenever there’s something wrong, we can just call them. There’s escorts also in the campus.”
Police said the suspects were wearing black sweatpants and gray hoodies, and were seen leaving campus in a black Nissan with tinted windows.
Officers later stopped a vehicle that fit that description and made two arrests. However, those two individuals were detained for unrelated crimes. “We identified and ruled out these two individuals as part of that robbery,” said Hudak. “However, there are other incentives that were involved in the stop that’s gonna lead probably to an arrest on subsequent charges but not related to the robbery.”
If you have any information on this robbery, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
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