University Police said they are looking for a man who assaulted and robbed a female Facilities Management worker in an on-campus building yesterday morning.
The suspect stole the woman's university ID card and keys after a struggle in an elevator in the Plant Sciences building at 6:15 a.m., police said.
Yesterday's incident was the fourth attack on a university staff employee this school year and the first in the spring semester. The attack also bears a striking resemblance to an assault and attempted robbery at Hornbake Library last October.
University Police spokesman Paul Dillon said the victim in yesterday's robbery was getting onto an elevator on the first floor to go up to the fifth floor. The suspect was already on the elevator when the victim entered, and he grabbed the woman by the shirt.
Dillon said the man took the victim's University ID card and keys while they were both on the elevator. He said the woman did not suffer any injuries due to the altercation.
"It was a very traumatic case for her," Dillon said. "We're confident we are going to track this guy down."
Facilities Management could not be reached for comment.
A similar robbery occurred Oct. 2 at about 7 a.m. in the basement of the Hornbake Library. According to University Police, the victim, also a female Facilities Management employee, was grabbed from behind after exiting a bathroom stall. The suspect attempted to grab the victim's keys from her belt, but was unsuccessful. He then fled the scene.
During winter break, two incidents occurred involving university employees.
On Jan. 2, two men assaulted and robbed a female university employee outside Worcester Hall. According to police, the victim was hit in the head and had her purse stolen by three men. Jose Cruz, 21, of Hyattsville and Angel Garcia, 20, of Riverdale were both arrested on robbery and second-degree assault charges in connection with the incident, among other charges.
Less than two weeks later, on Jan. 12, a university staff member was standing outside the Computer and Space Sciences Building talking on a cell phone when a gold Nissan Maxima stopped at a nearby stop sign, police said. The passenger of the car pulled out a gun and pointed it at the victim. The car drove away, and no one was harmed during the incident.
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