Minneapolis campus crimes don’t prompt more security

St. Thomas Public Safety sent out two crime alerts this week. Wells Farnham spoke of the incidents. (Marissa Groechel/TommieMedia)
St. Thomas Public Safety sent out two crime alerts this week. Wells Farnham spoke of the incidents. (Marissa Groechel/TommieMedia)

St. Thomas’ Minneapolis campus has not stepped up security after two women were robbed Wednesday evening near the campus, the second incident downtown this week.

Two unidentified suspects stole the victims’ phones, cash, a backpack and a jacket in a skyway near LaSalle Avenue and then fled, according to Minneapolis police. Neither the women nor the suspects were affiliated with St. Thomas.

The victims of the crime were unable to describe the suspects, and Public Safety lacks any information on them because they were not associated with St. Thomas.

“We were just there to support the victims, facilitate the reporting and make sure they were safe,” said Public Safety Crime Prevention Sargent Wells Farnham.

Farnham noted the victims may have possibly known the suspects.

Farnham does not think that Tuesday’s employee assault is related to the robbery or that there is a bigger threat to the campus.

“The employee who was assaulted was literally a random act of violence. And I can’t explain that other than … that the suspect was wanted for a similar incident that just happened a few minutes earlier, also in the skyways in downtown Minneapolis,” Farnham said.

The incident was alarming and unusual, according to Farnham, and students should know that these crimes do not typically happen on campus.

Public Safety will not be adding additional staff in response to these crimes but will continue its thorough patrolling routines around campus.

“Campus is a safe place, but that doesn’t mean you should not still be paying attention to your environment,” Farnham said. “Look up from your phones, and make sure you are staying engaged with the environment and the people around you.”

Junior Jack Graven often has classes on the Minneapolis campus for his business major. He said he was surprised by the timing of the recent crimes.

“To me, the two recent crimes are shocking just because they happened in the middle of the day in an area that I walk every day,” Graven said.

Graven feels safe on campus but said the crimes made him more alert.

“I am more aware and concerned about where I am and when,” Graven said.

Farnham cautioned students that anyone can move through the skyways of the Minneapolis campus.

“Keep your level of awareness up. Trust your instincts. Report stuff to us that you think we need to know about, and look out for each other,” Farnham said.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Minneapolis Police Department at (612) 692-8477.

Marissa Groechel can be reached at groe5630@stthomas.edu.