Pitt police beef up patrols after a string of incidents
University of Pittsburgh police have beefed up patrols in Oakland after three suspicious incidents were reported this week, and efforts are underway to adopt a more proactive approach to crime alerts.
“We have no reason to believe that these three reported incidents are related, but investigations are still underway at this time,” said Kevin Zwick, university spokesman.
The incidents were reported Tuesday and Wednesday. Two happened off campus, Zwick said.
A female student told police Tuesday that she was chased by two men. The following day, someone reported hearing calls for help along York Way before witnessing an SUV speed away from the area.
Pitt police posted details of the incidents on the school’s safety page.
On Tuesday, a woman told police that two men got out of a Honda and ran after her. The incident happened at 2:30 a.m. at the corner of 5th and Ruskin avenues.
The men were described as tan, with short hair and in their 20s. One was wearing a light blue shirt and dark pants; the other wore dark clothes.
Police said the car was dark silver with an Illinois license plate.
The men didn’t say anything to the woman and no one was injured, police said.
On Wednesday, Pittsburgh police responded to the 300 block of Atwood Street for an incident in which the caller said she heard pleas for help.
It was about 10 p.m. when the caller said she heard the cries and then watched a small SUV drive quickly away from York Way.
University police have encouraged students to follow safety guidelines, including walking in a group, especially at night.
A campus shuttle service is available by calling 412-648-2255.
Students can receive campus crime alerts by opting in to a notification system at this website.
Zwick said the university is in the process of adopting a more proactive approach to crime alert communications based on feedback from the Student Government Board, which may result in an uptick in alerts issued, including more notification of off-campus crime alerts.
Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call 412-624-2121.
Staff writer Madasyn Czebiniak contributed to this report.
Tawnya Panizzi is a TribLive reporter. She joined the Trib in 1997. She can be reached at tpanizzi@triblive.com.
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