Two female students were robbed early Wednesday morning in North Village, according to university police reports.
The robbery occurred at 1:30 a.m. as the two victims were leaving their apartment on Strathmore Avenue and were confronted by two male suspects, said Terry Brown, a UCPD detective.
“The suspects were sitting on a retaining wall as the victims walked by and made (this) statement: “˜We are going to have to take those purses,'” Brown said.
After the first victim gave up her purse, the screams of the second victim caused the suspects, who had a baseball bat for a weapon, to flee on foot toward Levering Avenue, according to a UCPD statement.
The two suspects were described as males of average build between 20 and 25 years of age.
“The victims did all the right things,” Brown said. “You always want to walk in pairs, scream very loudly, get some attention and if you feel in danger, give them your purse.”
If confronted by a robber, the UCPD Web page advises people to comply with the robber’s request, get a full description of the robber, and contact police authorities as soon as possible after reaching safety.
“The victims were not harmed but were scared to death,” Brown said.
Police are asking for the community’s help in identifying the suspects.
UCPD spokeswoman Nancy Greenstein said last week the Los Angeles Police Department took a similar report on the 600 block of Kelton Avenue in which two suspects attempted to take a female’s purse.
A white 1990 Honda Accord was seen in that incident.
Brown said although UCPD is tracking down suspects on this recent robbery, no correlation has been made to any of the approximately 16 robbery incidents reported between Oct. 1 and Oct. 7.