Two LMC students were robbed at gunpoint Wednesday, Nov. 5 at the south side of the lake at approximately 7:15 p.m. According to police, three people approached the students from behind; one of them armed with a gun, and was forced to turn over their money and cell phones. The gun appeared to be a black semi-automatic handgun with a silver barrel.
Although there are frequent incidents of theft on campus, this was the first incident of armed robbery, according to LT. Ryan Huddleston.
“It’s something that’s definitely out of the ordinary,” Huddleston says. “We’re going to be paying extra attention to the lake for the time being.”
Police have released descriptions of the three suspects. The first was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, the second wore a long-sleeved red shirt, and the third wore a long-sleeved black shirt. Each suspect also wore dark jeans.
In an e-mail sent to the LMC community, Police Services suggested several actions to take to stay safe at night:
When walking to your vehicle, have your keys ready in your hands. This will reduce time searching your pockets and purses at your vehicle.
Avoid use of cell phones and headphones, as these devices are distracting, and often decrease your awareness of surroundings.
Be alert to your surroundings at all times. Report any suspicious persons, behaviors, or situations to campus police immediately.
The lake is closed to the public from sunset to sunrise. Signs are posted at the entrances and exits to the lake notifying you of the time when the lake is closed to the public. Please do not access the lake during this time.
Huddleston encourages members of the LMC community to call campus police if they see anything out of the ordinary.
“We hope that people call us,” he said.
If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Police Services at (925) 439-1505.