Temple Students Robbed Off-Campus | NBC10 Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, January 23, 2024 – Temple University students are on alert following two armed robberies that occurred off-campus this week, leaving authorities investigating the incidents and seeking facts from the public.

Robberies Target Students Near Campus

University police are investigating two seperate incidents where students had their phones stolen at gunpoint.

• Two Temple University students were robbed of their phones off-campus.
• A handgun was displayed in both robberies.
• One suspect allegedly fired a single shot into the air during one of the incidents.
• No injuries were reported in either case.

The first robbery took place just after 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 21, on the 1800 block of West Montgomery Avenue. Police reported that a student was approached and robbed of their phone. The second incident occurred shortly before 1:30 a.m.on Thursday, January 22, on the 1500 block of Oxford Street. In this case,two suspects approached a student,and as they fled,one allegedly discharged a firearm into the air,according too police.

pro tip – Students should avoid walking alone at night,especially in less-populated areas. Utilize Temple’s walking escort services or travel with friends whenever possible to enhance personal safety.

Why did these robberies occur? The motive appears to be theft, specifically targeting students’ smartphones. Who was involved? Police are seeking multiple suspects described only as individuals who approached students and displayed handguns.What happened? Two separate incidents occurred within 24 hours, both involving the theft of phones at gunpoint. One suspect fired a shot into the air during the second robbery. How did it end? As of thursday, January 23, no arrests have been made, and investigations are ongoing. No one was physically injured in either incident.

Authorities confirmed that a handgun was brandished in both robberies, but thankfully, no one was physically harmed during either incident. As of Thursday, no arrests have been made, and investigations are ongoing.

Reader question – What additional safety measures could Temple university implement to better protect its students from off-campus crime? Share your thoughts and suggestions.

Anyone with information regarding these robberies is encouraged to contact the Philadelphia Police department at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or Central Detectives at 215-686-3093. Information can also be reported to Temple’s Investigations Unit at 215-204-6200 or Temple Police at 215-204-1234.