Mugging attempted at Bascom Hall

by Becky Vevea

Monday, September 15, 2008 00:00

A University of Wisconsin staff member was the victim of an attempted mugging near the southwest corner of Bascom Hall last Thursday night.

At 9:45 p.m., two men threatened the 51-year-old man, stating they had a weapon. According to UW Police Department, the victim said he did not see a weapon on the men and was involved in a struggle with the two men.

The men fled on foot with no money after the victim yelled for police, UWPD Sgt. Clark Brunner said. Police received a call from a person nearby who said they heard someone yell for help.

“Our initial response is we send as many officers we have available,” Brunner said. “We set up a perimeter and try to find the person.”

John Lucas, UW spokesperson, said the victim was not a professor and said he thinks it was a janitor leaving the building after his shift.

The two perpetrators have not been found. Both were described as black males in their 20s, 5-feet-11-inches, weighing about 160 pounds and one with an afro-style haircut.

One wore a long-sleeved plaid flannel shirt and dark pants, and the other had dark pants and a dark long-sleeved shirt.

Brunner said the victim did not describe the perpetrators as possible students.

The police will continue investigation by gathering evidence and conducting interviews of people nearby the area, and then detectives will take over the case.

Depending on the nature of the incident, police decide whether to send out a campus WiscAlerts. In this case, they did not.

WiscAlerts is a mass text message sent to students who have registered their cell phone number on the UW safety website, www.safeu.wisc.edu.

The website and WiscAlerts are part of a safety initiative developed by UW over the past year, aimed to keep students and officials connected on important safety concerns.

In the wake of the deaths of UW junior Brittany Zimmermann and UW-Whitewater student Kelly Nolan, UW Dean of Students Lori Berquam, UWPD and other officials developed the safety initiative to “enhance the safety and security of everyone who visits, studies or works at the university,” according to the UW safety website.

“We always tell people to walk in groups and stay in well-lit areas,” Brunner said.

Lucas said an incident like this happening right on campus is very concerning, even though it may not be as serious as some of the incidents that have taken place downtown over the past year.

Brunner said the police generally advise people to give up his or her belongings rather than take the risk of being injured in a struggle.

UWPD is also reminding staff who work later shifts on campus to be aware of their surroundings and avoid walking alone.

Anyone with any information regarding the attempted mugging is urged to call the City of Madison Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014.