Two Male Graduate Students Robbed

Two male graduate students were robbed on Friday, March 11, according to a community advisory sent by the Harvard University Police Department.

The victims were walking along Mass. Ave. near the 1700 block at about 1:45 p.m. when two unidentified males approached them from behind and demanded their money and cellphones.

According to the Cambridge Police Department’s report, one suspect asked for the time, and one victim responded that it was 1:45 p.m.

The two graduate students started to walk away, but the two males approached them again and asked what types of cellphones they had.

One graduate student said they did not have cellphones, and the two students started crossing the street. The suspects then told the graduate students to turn around.

One suspect told the victims “my buddy has a big cannon.” The other suspect placed a hand in his pant pocket, and the victims reported that they believed this “gesture was meant to insinuate the presence of a firearm.”

The victims then tried to negotiate with the suspects so that they would not have to give up their cellphones, offering money instead.

One victim handed the suspects $60, and the other victim handed the suspects between $100 and $200. The two suspects left the scene heading northward on Mass. Ave. toward Porter Square.

A witness reported that the two suspects were seen in the area about 15 minutes prior to the robbery.

Neither victim was injured during the incident, and both refused medical assistance.

HUPD reminded students that if someone approaches displaying a weapon and demanding property, it is recommended that the victim complies with the request and not resist.

—Staff writer Xi Yu can be reached at xyu@college.harvard.edu.