Cal State San Bernardino students on alert after string of violent attacks

Authorities at Cal State San Bernardino are on alert after an attempted kidnapping on the campus Sunday afternoon. It was the fourth violent crime at the school in two weeks.

In a message sent out to students Sunday afternoon, university police reported that about 3 p.m., a man approached a woman from behind, grabbed her and put his hand over her mouth and said, “Come on, let’s go for a ride in my car.”

The woman elbowed the man until he let go, then ran away, police said. He was described as 5 foot 8 with a thin build, medium length dark-colored hair and wearing dark colored shorts and a gray T-shirt.

The attack occurred on the north side of the campus near the John M. Pfau Library, police said.

The attack was the fourth violent incident on the campus in two weeks. On Thursday, police said a student was a victim of a strong-armed robber -- an iPhone was stolen in a school parking lot.

On Wednesday, police said a woman fought off a man who attempted to sexually assault her inside the Pfau library about 7:30 p.m. It was unclear whether this attack was connected to Sunday’s.

On Feb. 23, a student was kidnapped by a man with a gun who forced the victim to drive him off campus where he was robbed. The suspect in that case was ultimately arrested, police said.

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