District three of the Milwaukee Police Department, which patrols the Marquette area, received 64 reports of robbery between Dec.,”

Suspects are still at large after a student was robbed on Wednesday, making it the fifth robbery of 2007 to occur within Department of Public Safety patrol boundaries.

District 3 of the Milwaukee Police Department, which patrols the Marquette area, received 64 reports of robbery between Dec. 25, 2006 and Jan. 21.

In four of the robberies reported, DPS was able to locate and detain a suspect.

"We are aware of a crime spike in the area," MPD District Three Sgt. John Sgrignuoli said. "The good news arrests have been made in 95 percent of those robberies."

Sgrignuoli gives credit to DPS.

"Marquette Public Safety has done a phenomenal job in responding to calls and locating suspects," he said.

Associate Director of DPS Capt. Russ Shaw urges students to take a proactive role in preventing crimes.

"Be aware of your surroundings," Shaw said. "Utilize the L.I.M.O. and escort services."

DPS reminds students to travel in groups and avoid alleys at night.

"If you commit a crime in DPS patrol boundaries, your chances of getting caught are greater than in other areas of the city," Shaw said.

The fifth robbery of the year took place at approximately 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday when a 21-year-old female student was walking alone eastbound on Wisconsin Avenue.

The student approached the south side of the intersection of 18th Street when a woman approached her from behind, according to DPS reports.

The woman wrapped her arms around the student and demanded the student give up her purse.

According to Shaw, the woman forcefully removed the student's purse.

According to DPS, after obtaining the purse the woman fled into an older model, white four-door sedan. The driver of the sedan is believed to be a man, Shaw said.

DPS was contacted at 9:47 p.m. Officers searched the area for the suspects, but were unable to locate them.

DPS was able to locate the student's purse and two textbooks on the 600 block of North 18th street.

The student told DPS a wallet valued at $20, containing $15 in cash, three debit and credit cards, two $50 checks written out to her name and her driver's license was taken. Also taken was a pair of Apple brand iPod earphones, valued at $30.

MPD was contacted.

"The incident is still under investigation," Sgrignuoli said.

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