the safest part of the University of Minnesota campus

Students attacked on U's St. Paul campus
Updated: 10/12/2006 08:31:02 PM - [ VIDEO ]

Two people were attacked this week on what police say is the safest part of the University of Minnesota campus.

The attacks happened near Cleveland Ave., just steps from the St. Paul Student Center where thousands of students catch the bus each day.

Nate Daniels was walking near Buford and Cleveland Aves. Tuesday when two strangers approached him, put something they claimed to be a weapon in his back, and robbed him.

"He stopped me with his hands, turned me around real quick, pulled something out of his pocket and stuck it to my back," Daniels told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. "He said, 'Don't move, don't move.'"

Deputy Police Chief Steve Johnson said he was in the midst of issuing a crime alert Wednesday for the attack on Daniels when the criminals struck again. This time it happened a block away at Cleveland and Doswell Aves.

"It's an aberration to have something like this happen twice in the middle of the day," Johnson said. He said police aren't sure if the criminals had a weapon, or if the weapon was only implied.

Students received the crime alert in their email today and admit they are shocked by the news.

"You hear a lot about this in Minneapolis, but you never hear about anything like this in St. Paul," said student Chad Burgess.

Full descriptions of the suspects are available in the full crime alert.

The last incident reported in this area was last winter when a robbery was reported in the middle of the night.

Neither victim was hurt in the incidents. Anyone with any information is encouraged to call University of Minnesota Police.