Yale, NHPD Cops Investigating 2 Strong-Arm Robberies, 1 Armed Robbery

NEW HAVEN, CT — Over the past two weeks, two robberies and one attempted robbery of Yale students are under investigation by Yale and New Haven police.

New Haven police spokesperson Christian Bruckhart told Patch that while the "robberies in the downtown area do not seem to be related," the department's robbery/burglary unit is investigating.

"The downtown area is generally safe, however we encourage everyone to take basic precautions, such as being mindful of their surroundings, keeping valuables out of sight when possible and calling the police if they see something suspicious," he said.

On Saturday, Sept. 21 at around 11:15 p.m., a graduate student walking in the area of 1000 Chapel Street was "forcibly restrained by two masked males who took his wallet," according to Yale Police. No weapons were shown, and no "physical injuries" were reported, and the student "declined medical attention," police said. The two masked men fled on Chapel Street toward High Street, police noted.

Sunday evening, Sept. 22, around 7:30 p.m. on Elm Street between College and Temple streets, another graduate student "walking in the area was approached from behind by two unknown males who told him to empty his pockets," police reported. The student ran and was briefly chased, but no weapons were displayed, nothing was taken, and no physical injuries were reported, Yale authorities said. The two "unknown males" fled on Elm Street toward Church Street. No physical injuries were reported.

Then, last Thursday, just before 7 p.m., in the 200-block of George Street, an "Uber Eats driver was approached by a group of five to six males," Yale public safety reported, noting that one of the males "brandished a knife, demanded the food, and then shoved the victim." No physical injuries were reported, and the "group fled on College Street toward Crown Street"

In all cases, the New Haven Police Department is investigating.