AMIRA EL-KHAOULI
STAFF WRITER
On Feb. 20 and March 20, campus alerts were issued regarding the sighting of armed individuals near campus. There were three reported incidents. Campus lockdown was not initiated on either date. The following accounts are according to campus alerts.
On Feb. 19, a male victim was approached by three Hispanic individuals with handguns The victim was robbed of his vehicle at the Campus Marketplace shopping center on Twin Oaks Valley Rd. at approximately 8:40 p.m. Another male victim was approached by three Hispanic individuals who stated that they were carrying a knife. The victim was robbed of his wallet at approximately 9:10 p.m near the transit center on San Marcos Blvd.
On March 20, an individual was spotted disappearing into the woods near campus carrying a rifle.
Details were confirmed by Corporal Balos with the Cal State San Marcos Police Department. A recent inquiry to the San Diego County Sheriff’s San Marcos Station determined that no arrests were made in the incidents occurring in February despite observations leading to a description of the perpetrators. There is also no police sketch available in either case.
Deputy Moses with the San Diego County Sheriff’s San Marcos Station clarified that no confirmed rifle sighting occurred on March 20.
Students are encouraged to be aware of their surroundings. With a weapon sighting, Deputy Moses provides some guidelines: “First and foremost, call 911. Don’t confront the individual, and don’t make yourself known,” said Moses.
It should be noted that all 911 calls on campus will be routed to CSUSM police. Corporal Balos stated that if a lockdown were to occur, it would be initiated by campus dispatch.
In the instance of a robbery, Deputy Moses provided some advice. “Try to keep calm,” said Moses, “Follow the instructions of the person. Speaking generally, they want to get something and leave. Most criminals in that situation are just as scared as you are. Be a good witness.”
Items to take note of are gender, height, complexion, hair, facial hair, sound of their voice, clothing, shoes, direction they left in, if they had a unique run or walk, if you heard a car peeling out shortly afterwards and anything else unique about what they looked like. An important detail to remember if available is a license plate number. Prevention measures include walking in pairs.