Armed Robbery of Assistant Professor May Be One of Many

A Harvard assistant professor was held at gunpoint in a an armed robbery on Oxford St. last Thursday night.

The Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) is urging students to take caution after the incident, which marked the second attempted street robbery of a Harvard affiliate in the past month.

While walking down Oxford St. near Garfield St. at approximately 10:30 p.m., the victim--a resident of Cambridge-- was approached by a 30-year old white male, about 5'11" and 160 pounds, with fair skin, light blue eyes and a light-colored scar around his mouth. The suspect was also wearing a hat, a scarf and a green jacket.

The suspect then drew a silver handgun and demanded that the victim give him all of his money. The victim complied and the suspect fled the scene. The victim described the suspect as educated and very well spoken.

The Cambridge Police Department (CPD) reported another armed robbery that occurred around 8:00 p.m. on March 4 in front of 32 Shepard St.

The suspect involved in that robbery fits the description of the suspect in the Oxford St. robbery and acted in a similar manner, according to CPD.

The robbery follows the assault and attempted robbery of a graduate student on Feb. 21.

Recently released crime statistics from the Cambridge Police Department which show an 11 percent increase in street crime in Cambridge last year.

Advisory e-mails were sent out by HUPD on Friday, and HUPD urges anyone with information regarding the robbery to call the Criminal Investigation Unit at (617) 495-1796.

--Staff writer Joseph P. Flood can be reached at flood@fas.harvard.edu.