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Violent Crime in Downtown Tempe, at the Tempe Town Lake and at ASU
And you though Downtown Tempe, Arizona State University, and the Tempe Town Lake were safe places to visit. Crime Free. Well think again. Tempe police seek suspects in 2 violent night robberies
Sarah Muench Police are still searching for suspects in two armed robberies Monday night that targeted young women walking alone. The victims are 19 and 21 years old, and their identities are not being released. Police believe the attacks are related. About 9:30 Monday, two men approached a woman as she walked in the 600 block of W. Fifth Street and attacked her with a baseball bat. She was struck once on the back of the legs. The suspects told her to hand over her purse or they would hit her again. They grabbed the purse and ran toward a group of men at Jaycee Park. In the second incident, at about 11, suspects drove up alongside a woman as she was walking in the 600 block of E. University Drive. Police say the suspects got out of the vehicle and one struck the victim once in the face with a closed fist, knocking her to the ground. They took her wallet, assorted credit cards and about $80 in cash. An MP3 player and college textbook also were stolen, police say. She had a swollen eye and face and may have suffered a bone fracture on the left side of her face. She was treated by paramedics and taken to Tempe St. Luke's Hospital. Police described the suspects in the second attack as a 20-year-old Black male; 6 feet; muscular build; long afro; dark shirt and hat, and a Native American or Hispanic man; 5 feet 11; 16-23 years old; medium build. They might have been in a green pickup truck similar to a Chevy S-10 with a lowered suspension.
Robbers allegedly hit women Tempe police working with ASU department to search for suspects by Kristi Eaton published on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 Police are searching for several suspects wanted in connection with three separate robberies. A woman walking on the 600 block of West Fifth Street was allegedly robbed Monday night after two men approached her. One man allegedly hit the woman on the back of her legs with a baseball bat. They then took the woman's purse and fled on foot, police said. The first robber was described as a white man in his teens with a goatee. He was wearing a black sweatshirt, jeans and a bandana over his face. The second robber was described as a black man wearing a black shirt and jeans. About 90 minutes later, two different men allegedly robbed another woman on the 600 block of East University Drive. One of the men reportedly hit the woman with a closed fist on the face, knocking her to the ground. The robbers then stole her bag, police said. The suspects were described as black men in their 20s with muscular builds. One man had an afro hairstyle. Police believe the two robberies are connected to an April 4 robbery at Rural and Terrace roads. Two men also allegedly robbed a man of his laptop while he was seated at a bus stop. The first was described as a 6-foot-tall white with medium-length black hair, weighing 185 pounds. The second was described as either a white or Hispanic man with dark hair wearing a blue bandana over his face. He was said to weigh 175 pounds and be 5-feet-9-inches tall. Because the robberies occurred near ASU, Tempe police said they are working with University officials on the investigation. Police did not release sketches of the suspects or the identities of the victims. Anyone with information on the robberies is asked to call (480) 350-8311. Reach the reporter at kristi.eaton@asu.edu. |