Police Arrest 2 Individuals After Robberies

Local police forces arrested two individuals this week, one in connection with Tuesday’s theft outside the Harvard Square T Station and the other in connection with last week’s armed robbery in Harvard Yard.

A suspect in the Yard robbery—in which a man unaffiliated with the University was robbed at gunpoint outside of Thayer Hall on Nov. 11—will be arraigned today, according to an e-mailed message from the chief of the Harvard University Police Department, Francis “Bud” Riley, sent to the Harvard community by Dean of the College Evelynn M. Hammonds.

Additionally, Fernando Martinez was arrested on Tuesday for a robbery he allegedly committed at 5:20 that morning, according to the Cambridge Police Department log. After a brief chase and struggle, police arrested Martinez and charged him with robbery, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

The police department log reports that three men approached a Boston resident by the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Brattle Street at 5:21 that morning and demanded that he give them his cell phone and money.

Dean of the College Evelynn M. Hammonds e-mailed Riley’s statement to students in the College yesterday afternoon.

Prior to Tuesday’s report and arrest, six robberies were reported on or near Harvard’s campus in the past three weeks.

In his message regarding the Yard robbery, Riley suggested using only “well-lit or Designated Pathways,” as well as taking advantage of the services provided by HUPD. These services provided by HUPD. These services include shuttle buses, escort vans, and the Harvard University Campus Escort Program.

Additionally, Riley recommended that students be aware of the location of blue light phones and be sure to use them in case of emergency.

In the message preceding Riley’s advice, Hammonds also cautioned against “piggybacking”—permitting individuals who do not swipe an ID card to enter a dorm behind someone with swipe access.

Hammonds wrote, “I ask you to be mindful of your peers and to take care of one another within the College and larger Harvard community.”

The Cambridge Police Department did not respond to requests for comment.

—Staff writer Monika L. S. Robbins can be reached at mrobbins@college.harvard.edu.

—Sirui Li contributed to the reporting of this story.