HBS Student Robbed On Weeks Footbridge

A Harvard Business School (HBS) student was robbed at gunpoint early Friday morning while crossing the Weeks Footbridge.

According to a Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) advisory, the suspect is a black male between 5'8" and 5'9" and was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt.

This robbery fits into a pattern of incidents at convenience stores in Brighton and on North Harvard Street, according to Sergeant David C. Benoit of the state police.

The state police are conducting the investigation of the robbery, which occurred on state property. In addition to the footbridge, Memorial Drive, Soldiers Field Road, the grassy banks on the side of the Charles River and the other bridges are all state property and therefore under the jurisdiction of the state police.

"We work well with the Harvard University police," Benoit said, adding that the two departments are in regular contact about safety in the vicinity of Harvard.

Benoit said the investigation of the robbery was delayed because the victim did not call the HUPD until about eight hours after the incident.

Although the robbery occurred at about 12:50 a.m., the victim did not contact HUPD until about 9 a.m. on Friday. The state police were not informed of the robbery until a day and a half after it occurred.

"It doesn't make our job easier," Benoit said.

He added that the state police regularly patrol state property around Harvard, both on foot and in cars.

"It's not a good idea for anybody to be walking in an isolated dark area," Benoit said.

An e-mail was sent to all HBS students to inform them of the robbery yesterday morning, according to James E. Asner '68, a spokesperson for HBS.

"Whenever there have been these incidents in the past they have informed the community and encouraged them to take precautions," Anser said, adding that the message recommended students cross the river using the JFK Street bridge.

Over the past few months, several Harvard undergraduates have been the victim of attempted robberies on the College's side of the Charles River.

Early in January, two students were robbed at knife point by a pair of armed men at the intersection of Follen Street and Concord Avenue. In addition, a junior from Mather House was mugged by two men near the intersection of Bow and Arrow Streets in mid-January.

The description of the suspects in this case do not seem to match those of these previous incidents.

Anyone with any information on the incident is advised to contact the Brighton State Police Office at 727-4812.