Two Blogs in One Day!

Name that movie:

"Oh, now see? That wasn't a nice thing to say; that wasn't designed to make me feel good."

These are the kinds of emails my new school sends me on an almost weekly basis:

On October 12, sometime between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m., a male UIC student was the
victim of an off-campus armed robbery and aggravated kidnapping at the Walgreen's
parking lot at 1200 S. Canal St.

The student was walking toward his vehicle when a man told him he had scratched his
car. As the victim walked closer to examine his car, the offender displayed a
handgun and ordered the victim into the car. The offender took the victim to several
ATMs, where he forced him to withdraw money, and then to the Target store at
Roosevelt and Clark, where he forced the victim to purchase several items.

The offender and victim returned to the Walgreen's parking lot and the victim was
ordered out of his own car by the offender, who ordered the victim to follow him to
the White Castle at Roosevelt and Western driving a second car.  The victim entered
the second car but drove instead to 1250 S. Halsted St. and called Chicago Police.

The victim was not injured during this offense.  The second car, which had been
reported stolen, was recovered.  The student's vehicle remains missing and was
entered into the law enforcement database.

The offender is described as a black male, 30-45 years old, 5-8 and 200 pounds, bald
but with facial hair, and wearing a black jacket and blue jeans.

***UIC Police strongly recommend complying with an armed offender whose intent
appears to be property or valuables, as the victim did in this case, while taking
the first safe opportunity to evade and flee. (UIC Police recommend RESISTING a
demand to enter a vehicle with an offender who appears bent on violence.)***

Other security tips:

--be aware of your surroundings
--try to travel in groups when possible, particularly after dark
--use well-lit walkways
--on campus, look for the location of the nearest emergency call box (there are more
than 1,500 across campus)
--the emergency number for UIC Police is 5-5555 or 312-355-5555, which should be set
on speed-dial on your cell phone
--report crime promptly to police

The crime will be investigated by CPD Area 4 Detectives with assistance from UIC
Police. Anyone with information is asked to call UIC Police at (312) 996-2830.