Early this morning, two Albion College students were carjacked and held at gunpoint by two men. At approximately 1:30 a.m. the two students were seated in a red 2010 Jeep Patriot (license plate CPD1143) in the parking lot behind Bobbit Visual Arts Center, when, according to an e-mail sent to students by Albion College’s Department of Campus Safety, two men dressed in ski jackets and masks approached the vehicle.
The Pleiad reached out to Albion’s Police Department and spoke to Detective Nicole Wygant, who further clarified details of the event.
According to Wygant, the students, identified by the college as a sophomore and a freshman, noticed two Hispanic males walk past them last night. Later on, the two males returned and walked up behind the car where the two students were sitting. The two males then forced the students from the car and took a watch, wallet and the vehicle before speeding off down Michigan Avenue, headed east, where they were last seen.
The suspects were described as Hispanic males, one heavy set and short, the other tall and thin.
“We’re relieved no one was hurt in this incident and we’re confident local law enforcement is doing all it can to find the perpetrators,” said Albion College President Mauri Ditzler in a statement released on Albion’s website. “Nothing is more important to us than student safety on campus. We always do everything in our power to ensure a safe and vibrant learning environment for our students.”
Wygant believes this is an isolated event, and while the police believe they are not from town, they are unable to confirm that suspicion at this point. “Normally we don’t have too many problems on the campus itself, that’s why we believe this is an isolated event,” said Wygant.
The police are checking surveillance footage in the area and are waiting to interview workers who were on the night shift last night at the Shell and Citgo gas stations and the Snackshop, who potentially saw the car pass by. They’ll also be doing neighborhood canvases in the area.
“Stay in groups; be vigilant. If you see something out of place, go ahead and make a call,” said Wygant. “You don’t always have to go through the college Campus Safety; you can always call 911. That’s usually a faster response for us.”
The Pleiad has reached out to Campus Safety for further comment.
Photo by Steven Marowski
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