Off-campus home invasion spree
Several off-campus residences have been burglarized in the first few weeks of school, the Ann Arbor Police reported. At least five reportedly occurred between 3:45 a.m. Sept. 10 and 6:10 a.m. Sept. 11. No one was injured in any of the incidents. In two reports, residents awoke to find an unknown man or men in their apartments. In the other three, property reportedly was stolen while the residents were in other rooms of the apartments or away from the building. Entry in all cases was made through unlocked doors or open windows. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) issued a crime alert Sept. 10 and posted a website update with additional information Sept. 11.
Students are urged to lock their doors and windows, including those that are accessible by outside stairs. Additionally, students should immediately call police if they observe or hear suspicious behavior.
Students report groping incidents
A student told police Sept. 3 that an unknown man had jumped behind her as she walked up to her off-campus residence in the 1800 block of Washtenaw Ave. around 2:45 a.m. After he reportedly grabbed her chest and crotch, she screamed and he fled on foot toward Hill Street. He was described as an Asian male, about 20 years old, 5 feet, 6 inches and wearing a baseball cap.
After DPS issued a crime alert for the incident, two other students reported that they also had been assaulted earlier in the weekend. One student reported being grabbed by an intoxicated Asian male at the football game viewing Sept. 1 inside Michigan Stadium.
Another student reported that as she walked inside the Ruthven Museum Aug. 31, an unknown Chinese male had approached her. As he talked with her, he rubbed her elbow and grabbed her buttocks. He is described as a Chinese male, 5 feet, 7 inches, about 25 years old, short hair average build, clean and neat appearance with a thick native Chinese accent.
On Sept. 7, another student reported a suspicious incident with a man that resembles the suspect description from the Aug. 31 incident at the Ruthven Museum. The student reported that she was approached at the Michigan League by a man who spoke Chinese. As they talked, they walked over to the Modern Languages Building, where they sat outside. The man then touched her thigh and temporarily took her cell phone. She retrieved the phone and left the area. She described the man as a Chinese male, 5 feet, 8 inches, about 25 years old, short black hair and a thick accent. She did not provide a clothing description.
Anyone with information about these incidents or other suspicious activity is asked to contact police immediately.
Suspicious incident of man watching children on North Campus
University police are reminding parents of young children to use extra caution when allowing them to play outside after a suspicious incident Sept. 9. A resident in the 1500 block of McIntyre Road told police Sept. 10 that the previous morning about 10:30 a.m., he observed a man acting suspiciously around several young children who were outside playing. The man reportedly was closely watching the children as they moved around the lawn. The resident talked with the man, who ultimately left the area on foot.
The man is described as a white male in his 40s, 6 feet, 1 inch and 250 pounds with a large belly, a bald head with brown hair on the sides, a round face, blue eyes and a thin brown mustache. He was wearing a white long-sleeve T-shirt and gray sweatpants.
Anyone with information about this man or observes other suspicious behavior is asked to contact DPS at 911 or 734-763-1131.
Employee dispute, assault reported
Two employees at the Kraus Building reported Aug. 24 that they have been involved in a long-standing dispute. One employee also reported that the co-worker has repeatedly made harassing comments to the employee. Additionally, the employee reported that in February 2011 the co-worker had grabbed the employee’s buttocks. The case still is under investigation.
Moped taken from Church structure
A 2009 Honda moped reportedly was taken from the Church Street parking structure between Aug. 2 and 11. There are no suspects in the incident.
Pry marks found on dock door
A staff member reported Aug. 4 that pry marks had been discovered on the Lurie Biomedical Building loading dock door. The door still was secure and no entry had been made. It was not known when the damage might have occurred. There are no suspects.
