Robbery of USC Students Investigated

(WOLO) COLUMBIA,S.C.,— “it’s very surprising for me. i only hear about things happening late at night, you know always be careful when your walking around after the sun goes down.” But USC students Samantha Barnheart and Nicole Davis are throwing that theory out the window after police say two fellow students were robbed in the middle of the day. Columbia Police say in the first incident the suspect approached the victim while she sat in a car in the 700 block of Catawaba Street , threatened bodily harm and demanded money. Police say when the victim told him she didn’t have any money on her, police say he fled on foot. 15 minutes later a second robbery was reported just a few miles away. This time at the Stadium Suites not far from William’s Brice Stadium where police say a man fitting a similar description robbed a woman of her purse. Neither victim was injured in either incident. Still, too many incidents in a short period of time that now have USC students who live close by thinking about ways to protect themselves before the brazen bandit who remains on the loose – strikes again. many talking about taking self defense classes or investing in stun guns. At this police do not know if both of the crimes were committed by the same suspect but are asking people to extra vigilant by traveling in groups of 4 or more, being aware of your surroundings, and trusting your instincts by avoiding or vacating places that do not feel safe. Columbia police is reviewing area surveillance as they continue to search for leads.