Cambridge Police Investigating Unarmed Robbery of Grad Student

UPDATED: Dec. 10, 2014, at 3:00 p.m.

A female graduate student was reportedly robbed on Banks Street by an unknown male early Wednesday morning, according to a community advisory issued by the Harvard University Police Department.

The 26-year-old white woman told police that she was struck from behind by an unknown male while walking on Banks Street at 1:30 a.m. The assailant stole the woman’s tote bag containing her laptop, wallet and other personal items, the victim reported.

The victim suffered from cuts on her face and may have dislocated her right elbow, according to Cambridge Police Department spokesman Jeremy Warnick. She was treated at the scene and transported to a local hospital afterwards.

“In terms of the robbery itself, it was physically violent in the process of trying to take [the victim’s] assets,” Warnick said.

CPD does not have a description of the suspect at this time, though the department is joining forces with HUPD to gather information from the student body and faculty and to directly assist the victim, Warnick added. CPD officers also plan to work with neighboring businesses to try to attain any surveillance footage that could aid the investigation.

Banks St. runs from Mt. Auburn St. to the Peabody Terrace apartments, including along the east side of Mather House.

The assailant will likely receive a minimum charge of Assault and Battery and Unarmed Robbery if caught, Warnick said.

HUPD also used the community advisory to remind students and affiliates to be vigilant while walking around campus. The advisory encouraged students and affiliates to “avoid talking on cell phones, listening to music, or walking too close to persons unnecessarily” and to reach out to HUPD immediately if they observe any suspicious activity.

HUPD spokesman Steven G. Catalano could not be reached for comment at time of publication.

—Staff writer Mariel A. Klein can be reached at mariel.klein@thecrimson.com. Follow her on Twitter @mariel_klein.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

CORRECTION: December 10, 2014

An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated which party involved in the robbery has not yet been identified by police. In fact, Cambrige Police have not yet identified the suspect.