Two teenage students were allegedly attacked and robbed in the early hours of Friday 4th November, in Newcastle City centre, close to the University campus.
In two separate incidents, an 18 and 19-year-old student are believed to have been pounced upon by a group of assailants, who targeted the pair’s mobile phones and wallets.
Both alleged attacks occurred within 20 minutes and 500 metres of each other.
The first alleged attack is believed to have taken place at around 2.30am, when a gang of seven or eight people stole the 18-year-old victim’s phone and wallet, on Kings Walk, not far from the Newcastle University campus. It is claimed the large group approached the student before stealing the student’s phone and wallet.
The second theft is claimed to have happened merely 20 minutes later on Windsor Terrace, close to the Robinson Library, where a 19-year-old student is alleged to have had their possessions stolen, in a ‘similar style robbery’.
It is not yet known whether the claimed attacks are related.
Police attended the scene and have since arrested three males, aged 15, 19, 20 and an 18-year-old woman, on suspicion of robbery.
The Newcastle University Student Union’s Welfare and Equality officer, Rachel Kitching, has since reinforced the University’s aims to create the safest and most secure campus possible for its students.
Rachel Kitching said: “We want to create a safe campus for our students, and it should be within our grounds that students feel most secure in Newcastle.”
“The robberies of two students on our University campus last week have unfortunately upset this message, reminding us of the need to be mindful of both our own safety and the safety of friends when walking home at night.”
The City centre Neighbourhood Inspector, Nicola Wearing said: “I am appealing to students themselves to think about their own safety.”
“When they are out and about it is advised that they keep valuables such as mobile phones secure and out of sight, and to also plan routes and methods of getting home in advance; looking out for friends and fellow students along the way.”
Rachel Kitching has also appealed for any witnesses of the alleged attacks to come forward with any information that could help the Police, in their on-going investigations.
“Please do come forward if you have any information about either of these crimes, which took place outside the Students’ Union on Kings Walk and also outside the Robinson Library on Friday 4th November.” The Welfare and Equality officer continued.
Anyone with any information in relation to the alleged events are being asked to contact the Police on 101.
