In a Halloween costume shopping trip gone awry, two University of Wisconsin students were robbed in a tunnel near Grand Canyon Drive Saturday evening.
The victims — two 18-year-old males — took a bus from campus to the West Transfer Point, where they met two strangers, according to the incident report. The two men then convinced the victims to accompany them to West Towne Mall.
According to the report, the victims spent an hour with the young men at the mall. After leaving the mall, the two men convinced the victims to take a shortcut through a tunnel near Grand Canyon Drive, where the strong-armed robbery occurred.
The suspects left with a small amount of money and a cell phone, according to the report.
One of the victims was punched but required no medical attention, Madison Police Department spokesperson Joel DeSpain said.
According to the report, one of the suspects is described as a black, 17- to 19-year-old male, about 5 feet 8 or 9 inches tall, with a medium build and a ponytail. The other suspect is described exactly like the first suspect, except for the ponytail.
One of the men was wearing a red jacket and the other wore a beige jacket. Both men were reported to be wearing dark-colored jeans, the report said.
According to DeSpain, a number of robberies have occurred at Metro transfer points recently. This incident, in which the victims spent an extended period of time with the suspects is unusual, however.
“Typically, we have victimization where the perpetrators mug somebody and run, but typically they don’t go shopping with them,” DeSpain said.
Additional officers have been assigned by MPD in response to a recent string of robberies in the greater campus area, DeSpain said.
UW spokesperson John Lucas said the university hopes students will take precautions to ensure personal safety, such as traveling in groups, watching out for friends and using common sense, particularly with Halloween coming up this weekend.
A simple lesson can be taken away from this particular incident, DeSpain said.
“Word to the wise: No matter what age you are, don’t take off with people you don’t know,” DeSpain said.
