West Virginia Universitys Department of Public Safety is seeking witnesses to a strong-armed robbery that reportedly took place Monday evening (Aug. 27) on the Evansdale Campus.

A male student told police he was robbed by another male around 9:30 p.m. Monday in WVU Parking Area 50 near Oakland Street. The victim reported that four white males and one black male approached him in a full-size, light-colored pickup truck. One of the men in the truck robbed him, while the four others reportedly approached two unidentified persons standing nearby. All five suspects then fled in the truck.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call WVU Police at 293-2677 or 293-COPS.

DPS offers the following safety tips:

• When you are traveling on foot or in your car, pay attention to your surroundings. If you sense something is wrong, leave the area immediately.

• When traveling at night on foot, travel in pairs or large groups.

• When out walking alone, walk briskly and confidently. Avoid isolated areas, shortcuts and deserted parking lots.

• Avoid going to ATM machines after dark.

• If you see someone suspicious or feel you are being followed, go to a populated/well-lit area or activate one of the 37 blue tower emergency phones on campus.

• If you are the victim of a robbery, follow the instructions of the robber.

• Do not argue or attempt to fight with your assailant.

• Remember that the motive in most robberies is to steal, and once perpetrators have what they want, they will leaveand that is exactly what you want them to do. Comply with their requests and remember that money, jewelry and other valuables can be replaced. Never do anything that may increase your risk of being a victim of violence.

If you are a victim of a robbery, you may feel totally helpless and may wish there were something you could do,said WVU Police Chief Bob Roberts.Remember, you are not totally helpless, and although you should not resist or do anything that might increase your risk, you can make mental notes of the description of the suspect. Try to remember what the robber looks like (height, weight, hair, skin color, facial hair, scars and tattoos). Make a mental note of what he or she is wearing (pants, shirt, jacket, shoes, etc.) If a vehicle is involved, try to get the license number (if safe to do so), call the police and report the incident as quickly as possible.

Quick reporting and a good description may give the police the information they need to apprehend the suspect and help ensure that the robber is quickly apprehended,Roberts said.