Campus On Alert After String of Armed Robberies

A Gannon University student was robbed at gunpoint Monday night, while walking home from class.
And it's not the first time this has happened, recently.

It was dark, but it was only about 6:00 Monday evening, when a woman was robbed while walking home from class, in downtown Erie.
A crime that has many at Gannon being extra cautious.

The 21-year-old female student told police she was walking along west 6th street, when a man came up behind her and put a gun to her back.

He demanded money and her cellphone.

She gave up her phone, but fortunately wasn't hurt.

It happened at 6th and Chestnut, near the Gannon campus.

And Erie News Now learned that students have been on alert for a crime like this.

According to Gannon Police, this is the fourth similar incident, on or near Gannon's campus over the past few weeks.
Three have involved Gannon students.

Gannon Police are investigating along with Erie police.

And they've increased patrols, and are also keeping students informed, along with advice to keep themselves safe, "We've beefed up our patrols a little bit, we've also put out notices to everyone about what to do, where to walk, and how to carry themselves," said Ted Marnen, Director of Gannon Police & Safety.

"It makes you be more aware so when you're walking home from class as 7:00 at night and it's dark, you're no like 'oh my goodness what do I do?'" said Gannon Student, Renee Ratti.

In each robbery, the suspect has a similar description; a black male, in his late teens or early 20's, with a thin build.
Sometimes he's on a bicycle, but not in each reported case.
And police say he's targeting both males and females.

Police are reviewing surveillance video as part of their investigation.