Police search for armed robbers after attack near Hill Street in Ann Arbor
Two people were robbed early this morning near the intersection of Olivia Avenue and Hill Street in Ann Arbor, a University of Michigan police crime alert said.
The two victims were walking near the intersection about 12:30 a.m., when two men approached, pulled knives and demanded money, the alert said.
One victim handed over some money, and the men left walking south on Olivia Avenue.
Both men were described as white, 20 years old and weighing 140 pounds, the alert said. One was 6 feet tall, wore glasses, a puffy black jacket, blue scarf over his face and a hat. The other was 6 feet, 1 inches tall and was wearing a black jacket, a scarf over his face and a knit hat.
Anyone with information can call university police at (734) 763-1131, the Ann Arbor Police Department's tip line at (734) 794-6939 or email tips@a2gov.org.
Comments
Frustrated in A2
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 12:37 a.m.
If this is an Ann Arbor P.D. case (Hill and Olivia is city property and not university) why does this article say to call the university before it says to call A2PD or their tip line? Is this article a direct quote from the university crime alert? It seems like it would make sense to contact A2PD and ask them directly about the report instead of relying on another departments version of it. I would not ask Dearborn PD about what happened in Detroit. Just a thought.
Bill Cosworth
Tue, Jan 17, 2012 : 6:54 p.m.
Leave it to Lee Higgins to pump out very little information....
OLDTIMER3
Tue, Jan 17, 2012 : 1:41 p.m.
Police are only minutes away when seconds count.
Mitch
Tue, Jan 17, 2012 : 1:27 p.m.
Well, campus is the safest place to get robbed. No one can adequately protect themselves, due to UofM constitution, which separated them from the rest of the state. Countermeasure? How about your arm yourself stand up for your own safety. The US supreme court stated that the Police have no responsibility for your safety. Free people are armed! These two were OWNED.
Wehrwolf
Tue, Jan 17, 2012 : 4:22 p.m.
While the Regents might like to think that everybody is safer because weapons are banned on university property (Hear that potential criminals? No weapons on campus!) the fact of the matter is that they have effectively rendered law abiding citizens defenseless off campus as well. Because there is no way to legally store a defensive weapon while on university property, (even someone unaffiliated with the university who strays onto university property with a weapon, licensed or not, is subject to criminal charges) that means students, faculty, or staff who commute from off campus, are denied the right to protect themselves to and from their residences, even after they have left the magical bubble that surrounds UM.
lordhelmet
Tue, Jan 17, 2012 : 10:37 a.m.
I thought the Ann Arbor News didn't comment on the race of the criminals? Oh yeah, they comment ONLY when they are white.
Kai Petainen
Tue, Jan 17, 2012 : 1:37 a.m.
I heard that the governor is going to focus in on public safety this year. (if it's true that he'll speak about that in the state of the state address) here's a conspiracy theory for you... what if the mayor and the governor know what the other is going to do? let's suppose i was the mayor and i knew that the governor would focus in on public safety. then.. perhaps i would cut fire and police, knowing that the governor would focus state funds towards the cities for public safety. that would make the governor look good, and the mayor would look thankful towards the governor. friends helping friends. that way the city could save some money (mayor looks good), and then the governor fixes the problem (governor looks good). hmm... just a conspiracy.
1bit
Tue, Jan 17, 2012 : 12:44 a.m.
Sounds like a "two dudes" story to me. If not, I hope they catch these similarly dressed wafer-thin desperados.
The Picker
Tue, Jan 17, 2012 : 12:26 a.m.
There's so much to be said that would violate conversation guidelines !
Alan Goldsmith
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 : 11:08 p.m.
Mayor Hieftje--guess he's still 'comfortable' with the police cuts. Why is he such a hater of public safety?
Tru2Blu76
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 : 4:15 p.m.
From the article, it appears the two victims were not students of any local college. Were the victims residents of Ann Arbor or visitors or what? What are the ages of the victims? Predatory behaviors include not being very frequent. If such armed robberies where to happen once or twice a week in a given area, then the predator becomes vulnerable to counter measures like constant plain clothes police patrols. The whole point of robbery is to catch the intended prey when the prey lets their guard down. Anthropologists point out that humans have evolved away from group and communal living. Herds of prey animals (as humans once were) are herding to give the majority time to exist in a more relaxed state by providing many eyes to detect threats. Neighborhood watch patrols are a proven substitute for communal (tribal) living but can't be maintained because patrolling at night is out of synch with the rest of the world and most people require those hours for sleep (and or life sustaining income activity). And no police patrols would consist of just one officer in one area, there must be backup immediately available or two or more officers walking together (or both). So apparent availability of personnel is deceptive: it takes many more man hours than is generally available to conduct such operations.
simply amazed
Tue, Jan 17, 2012 : 2:33 p.m.
I've re-read this article. Not only does it not say that the victims were or weren't students, it does not even say if the victims were male or female...so where are you coming up with the assumption that they were not students? They were referred to as "people" and "victims". So not quite sure how it "appears that the two victims were not students". Just asking how you formulated that assumption.
lordhelmet
Tue, Jan 17, 2012 : 10:39 a.m.
If citizens arm themselves and stop depending on the one or two cops in the city to "protect them", these type of incidents will stop occuring.
Tru2Blu76
Tue, Jan 17, 2012 : 5:16 a.m.
Blue Marker: I completely understand your worries. My daughter graduated from U of M in '98 but there were nowhere near the number of violent incidents we've been seeing over the past year or so. I wish I could offer assurances that everything will be alright. But real life experience taught me that this kind of thing goes on until there's a major incident where someone gets hurt. The only good news is that just adopting street smarts and being alert and willing to take evasive action before things become critical reduces the threat considerably. For the most part, we are on our own and responsible for our own safety.
Blue Marker
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 : 8:50 p.m.
Yeah, I was reading a little into it because of the area it happened in. My son lives in East Quad and it makes me worry.
krc
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 : 3:31 p.m.
Perhaps it's time for people to stop walking around after dark? Hello? Ann Arbor is no longer safe to walk around in after the sun goes down.
Tru2Blu76
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 : 4:19 p.m.
Are you suggesting a curfew for adults - or martial law for Ann Arbor? Good luck with that one.
pbehjatnia
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 : 2:59 p.m.
there cannot have been any armed robbery in ann arbor. chief barnett and mayor hieftje say so. what happened is that these two people, who only think they were robbed at knife point, (probably by druggies who didnt make curfew at the delonis) actually invited these two upstanding gentleman over and offered them money. the reason they dont remember is climate change. yes, i am comfortable with this explanation of events. very comfortable.
tinkywinky
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 : 2:47 p.m.
Lay off some more cops. I'm comfortable with Ann Arbor turning into West Detroit.
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 : 2:17 p.m.
6' and 6'1" and weighing in at 140 lbs? I wonder how they manage to stay so thin? Jenny Craig? Florine Mark? ...;)
The Picker
Tue, Jan 17, 2012 : 12:19 a.m.
My guess, .... Crack !
Blue Marker
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 : 2:07 p.m.
Students are easy prey for these thugs. It's very sad that this sort of thing seems to be on the rise.
Steve
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 : 1:32 p.m.
As a lifelong resident of a Ann Arbor, I have often wondered why police don't regularly send out plain clothed officers to walk these areas after midnight. During all the robberies, serial rapists, etc., it seems like a grate way to catch these thugs. Even if it doesn't catch anyone, it sure would be a great deterrent. Now that we have two police forces, why hasn't this been tried....or reported upon if it has been tried?
Sallyxyz
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 : 4:06 p.m.
Good luck finding the resources for something like a foot patrol in residential neighborhoods after midnight. Oh that's right, they spent the money on public art!
Wolf's Bane
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 : 1:13 p.m.
Woah, Olivia Avenue is becoming a hot bed for crime in Ann Arbor. It used to be such a beautiful part of town.
smokeblwr
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 : 6:54 p.m.
Are you referring to the voyeuristic activity on Olivia?
jcj
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 : 12:39 p.m.
"The two victims were walking near the intersection about 12:30 a.m., when two men approached, pulled knives and demanded money, the alert said." It would not be politically correct to call these criminals what they really are. But they are not men!
Silly Sally
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 : 12:31 p.m.
Wow, when the bad guys are white, their race is listed, as it should be. But why not be consistant and list a good description, including the race of the criminal, every time? It seems as if most crimes suchg as this happen around South U - Hill area around midnight on a Thursday to Sunday night. The motto is to avoid men with a scarf over their faces and a knit hats
Susie Q
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 : 2:07 p.m.
I agree with tdw, Silly Sally. Race and/or a person's complexion seem to be pretty consistently included in descriptions of criminal suspects. Sometimes a suspect's racial background may not be known.
tdw
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 : 1:22 p.m.
Let the Ypsi shots begin
tdw
Mon, Jan 16, 2012 : 1:21 p.m.
A2.com always lists race when it is known.I just don't know what all the fuss is when it comes listing race and photos,A2.com seems to be pretty consistent