2 Armed Holdups Reported at CSUN

Two female students at Cal State University Northridge were robbed at gunpoint on consecutive nights last week, a school official said Saturday.

The first robbery occurred at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday near the women’s softball field, when an armed man stole a small amount of money and jewelry from the student, said CSUN spokesman Bruce Erickson.

The second robbery took place in a dormitory lobby at 5 p.m. Thursday. The robber opened the door for the victim “in an apparent gesture of courtesy,” Erickson said, and then drew a handgun and stole a small amount of money and her ATM card.

In both cases, the women were alone when they were accosted. Neither victim was physically harmed.

“We’ve had two robberies, and that’s disturbing to us because that’s a pattern,” said Erickson. “We are working with the victims to establish some suspects.”

CSUN officials believe one robber may be responsible in both incidents.

They are working with Los Angeles police detectives and have had the victims look at mug shots of possible suspects. On Friday, CSUN officials started canvassing dormitories to alert students about the robberies and to encourage them to come forward with any information they may have.

Erickson said he doubts the robberies were committed by a student.

“If he is a student or a resident, he’ll be identified,” Erickson said.

CSUN police are working on a sketch of a suspect, who was described as an African American man in his early 20s, 5 feet 7 and about 180 pounds. Victims say he was wearing dark clothing during both robberies.