Some fear on UWM campus due to recent crime spree, police say pay attention, "listen to your gut"
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- There is some fear near the UW-Milwaukee campus following 10 violent incidents in recent days -- and that fear is heightened by the fact that no one has been arrested. Five of nine attempted armed or strong armed robberies occurring within a 48-hour period have involved women who were in their vehicles when they were attacked.
The following is a complete breakdown of the nine attempted/completed armed or strong armed robberies that have occurred since early Sunday, April 19th (beginning with the most recent incident):
East Side crime spree map
Police believe the three incidents that occurred Monday afternoon, April 20th -- in broad daylight, are connected.
On Sunday, April 19th, an attempted sexual assault occurred near campus -- a block away from where Monday's attempted carjacking occurred.
It happened around midnight in the 2000 block of E. Linnwood Ave. on the south side of the street.
The victim, a UWM student, was approached by two unknown people who forcibly pulled the victim into a nearby apartment parking lot. They attempted to assault the victim, but the victim was able to break free and fled from the suspects.
The suspects are described as:
Stephanie Lichner says she knows it's important to be aware of her surroundings -- especially when she's out walking her dog, for example.
"I'm not on my phone when I'm walking," Lichner said.
But what about when she's seated in her parked car?
"I am sure there are times where I am finishing a text or checking the time or something like that," Lichner said.
Not anymore! At least not since she heard about an attempted carjacking on E. Bellview -- nearly right outside her front door.
"That`s very, very scary," Lichner said.
"Right now, we`re not sure exactly what set it off, but what we`ve been seeing in the last year, a lot of times a spree will start with a group of kids that decide we`re going to go out and commit crimes for whatever reason, because it's fun," Milwaukee Police Lt. William Beauchene said.
Police say a majority of the crimes that have occurred within recent days have involved young women -- many of them in their cars. It is important to pay complete attention to your surroundings, police say.
"If something feels strange, listen to what your gut is telling you and do something about it," Lt. Beauchene said.
Some UWM students are heeding that message, especially with all the recent crime occurring so close to campus.
"I have considered getting my concealed carry (permit), especially now that I`m 21. I`ve carried a knife on me late at night coming home," Maggie Franzen said.
UW-Milwaukee police say UWM students who experience an emergency should call 9-911 if on a campus phone, or (414) 229-9911 if using a cell phone or off-campus phone. There are also “Blue Light” Emergency SAFE phones located all over campus.
The Milwaukee Police Department's tip-line phone number is: (414) 935-7360.