Crime time
A University of Maryland student who had been at a bar near the College Park campus was beaten unconscious and robbed Friday morning, the Washington Post reports.
The student was followed by two men whom he had met earlier at the bar, police said. They began punching and kicking him, and he lost consciousness briefly, the police said. When he awoke, police said, he found that his cellphone and wallet were gone. Police said he was treated for minor injuries.
The incident occurred about 2:15 a.m. in the 7400 block of Knox Road, the Prince George’s County police said.
Ironically, this happened during the “CRIME TIME – Get Home Safely” safety campaign, which was unveiled last Wednesday at the City Hall. The campaign is a partnership comprised of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union – Center for Campus Life, the Student Government Association, the Prince George’s County Police, the University of Maryland Department of Public Safety, and the City of College Park.
University of Maryland Police Chief David Mitchell and District 1 Commander for Prince George’s County Police Major Hector Velez led the campaign kick-off by addressing officers from both agencies who then went out on foot to speak with students and community members to raise awareness about personal safety at night in the College Park area and on the UMCP campus.
According to police reports, officers and representatives from the organizations involved were out during night-time hours from August 31st – September 3rd providing safety information to students and city residents to promote smart safety habits.
Late night hours, particularly after bars have closed and parties have ended, present added opportunities for criminals to target individuals. Raising awareness in the students’ and community members’ minds about good personal safety habits is integral to preventing criminal acts.
“CRIME TIME” posters were also displayed in area businesses and housing complexes as well as in campus residence halls and on UM Shuttle Buses to help promote the campaign.