UC Police Report Robbery, Attempted Purse Snatching Near Parnassus Campus

A person was robbed of his personal belongings on Monday at about 7:30 p.m. and a UCSF student was the victim of an attempted purse snatching one block away from the UCSF Parnassus campus last Tuesday. The robbery on Aug. 11 occurred at about 7:30 p.m. near UCSF Medical Center. The victim was on his way to the medical center and was walking alone between 401 Parnassus Ave. and 405 Parnassus Ave. He was robbed by an African American male, who was unarmed. The suspect approached the victim from behind, wrapped his arms around the victim and took his wallet. It is unknown whether the suspect left the area on foot or by vehicle. The suspect was described to be about 30 years in age and approximately 6'0" in height. He was last seen wearing a white- or cream-colored sweatshirt with green print on it. As of August 12, there have been no arrests. Anyone with information regarding the robbery incident is encouraged to contact the UCSF Police Department at (415) 476-1414. The attempted purse snatching occurred at about 8:50 p.m. on Aug. 5 in the area of 4th Avenue and Irving Street on August 5. The victim was walking alone on 4th Avenue toward Parnassus Avenue when she was followed by the suspect, who tried to grab her purse as he passed her on the street. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, aged 20-25 years old, and 5'6" in height. He was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt. The suspect’s weight and hair and eye color are unknown. As of August 12, there have been no arrests. UCSF Police remind the campus community that criminals look for crimes of opportunity and that certain personal safety measures can be followed to minimize the chances of becoming a victim. These are: 1. Travel in groups whenever possible, especially at night. 2. Avoid poorly lit or deserted areas when walking at night. 3. Make use of the shuttle and escort services. 4. Stay alert to your surroundings. Avoid headphones and cell phone use when walking alone. 5. Do not stop in response to conversation starters (e.g., asking for time or directions). 6. If you feel you are being followed, go into an open business and ask for help. 7. Keep emergency numbers pre-programmed into your cell phone. 8. If you are faced with demands for your money or property, especially from an armed subject, comply with their demands for the sake of your safety. The campus community can help fight crime by reporting suspicious activity to the UCSF Police Department immediately. For emergency or in-progress events, dial 9-911 when using on-campus land lines and 415/476-6911 when using cell phones. For non-emergency calls, please dial 415/476-1414.