BRIEF: Undergraduate Robbed by Armed Assailant Near Corner of Mt. Auburn and Dunster

A male undergraduate student was the victim of an armed robbery on Tuesday night near the intersection of Mt. Auburn and Dunster Streets, according to an email sent to the Harvard community by the Harvard University Police Department.

The victim was walking with a companion down Dunster Street at around 6:50 p.m. when he was approached from behind and felt a hard object against his back, according to the HUPD advisory and an eyewitness statement.

When the victim turned around, an unknown man demanded his wallet, stating, “You don’t want to get stabbed.”

The victim promptly gave the assailant his wallet. The assailant then fled the scene.

The victim was not injured in the course of the robbery.

The victim’s companion, Andrew K. Murray ’13, described the robber as a tall, white male. He said he and his friend were in a well-lit section of the street, headed toward Kirkland House, when the robber approached them.

Following the incident, the victim reported the crime to the Cambridge Police Department.

Murray said the wallet contained $50 in cash and all of his friend’s credit or debit cards.

In its email, HUPD stated, “If you are approached by someone displaying a weapon and demanding your property, it is recommended that you comply with the request and not resist.”

According to HUPD spokesperson Steven G. Catalano, the Cambridge Police Department is investigating the robbery since it did not occur on Harvard University property.

Last year, a string of 10 robberies, some committed by the same offenders, occurred on or near Harvard’s campus between Oct. 30 and Nov. 21. Following the crime wave, suspects were arrested and HUPD increased the number of officers on patrol.

According to statistics on its website, CPD responded to 36 street robberies across Cambridge between Aug. 2 and Nov. 21.

­—Julie M. Zauzmer contributed reporting. —Julia K. Dean can be reached at juliadean@college.harvard.edu.