Halloween Spurs the Least Original Criminals

Two “Scream” Mask Robberies Near Campus

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) alerted students, faculty, and staff about two strong arm robberies that occurred within 24 hours of each other near campus, through an email sent out on Saturday afternoon.

“The suspect was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and a mask from the movie Scream,” the email said.

The suspect’s disguise appears to be life imitating art as the mask was made popular by the horror movie franchise “Scream.”

“All of a sudden I hear a loud scream and a skinny guy in a “Scream” mask is running towards me”—Read the survivor’s anonymous account at the bottom.

One of the robberies occurred on Parker Street, between Turk and Anza between 7-7:30am. According to Dan Lawson, Director of DPS, more officers have been brought in to patrol around campus during the time the robberies occurred.

The Richmond District Police station said they were looking for two suspects, but they couldn’t give out further information because the search is an ongoing investigation.

An officer at the station did offer a piece of advice: “Report a crime straight away. Don’t wait a couple of days.”

“When I leave campus now, I’m running to my car and locking myself in,” said freshmen Aaron Louie.

Staying Safe this Halloween

Any safety tips for Halloween? “Travel in groups, if possible,” Lawson suggested. “I wouldn’t say to avoid the Scream mask as a costume, but maybe if you’re a male, with a slim build, wearing jeans and a dark hoodie… be alert that this isn’t the best costume for you.”

Lawson also discouraged fighting back against an attacked. “It’s always recommended to just give up the item that [the assailant] is after.” Lawson recalled a recent incident in the Western Addition neighborhood near campus, when a male student resisted a robbery and consequently sustained injuries from the attacker that required hospital care.

Lawson said that the Clery Report doesn’t require DPS to report off campus robberies but they felt that it was necessary to alert students, faculty, and staff, when they recognize a pattern or if the crime occurs in close proximity to campus.

There were 9 robberies reported on public property near USF main campus in 2012 according to Public Safety’s latest Clery Report.

Crime Prevention Workshops Reserved For Women

The USF community can look for tips on general safety on Public Safety’s website.

You can also join DPS officers as they instruct courses on Self-Defense at the Koret Center. However, the website for USF Self Defense classes makes it clear they are for “Women ONLY.”

The most important tips are to always be aware and alert and to keep valuables like smart phones and laptops concealed.

A Halloween Trend for Criminals

Is the “Scream” mask a popular disguise for robbers around Halloween? Numerous cases reported around the country this year point to a pattern.

In Seattle, a man in a “Scream” mask, who implied he had a weapon, attempted to rob a Wells Fargo just a few days ago.

On Oct 23, an armed man wearing the same mask robbed a Subway restaurant in Atlanta.

A man wearing the “Scream” mask was reported robbing a barbershop in Portland with a handgun last week.

“Most of us can navigate through an urban area and never be a victim of crime,” said Lawson, “but sometimes it’s inevitable and you can’t avoid it.”

 SCREAM Victim Speaks 

Editor’s Note: One of the victims of the robberies agreed to speak to the Foghorn about her experience, under the condition that her identity is kept anonymous.

Foghorn: What Happened?

Victim: I was walking down Parker Street around 7 o’clock in the morning and it was incredibly foggy. I could barely see 5 feet in front of me. I watched a girl walking in front of me disappear into the fog and all of a sudden I hear a loud scream and a skinny guy in a “Scream” mask is running towards me with a stolen backpack and the screaming girl is chasing him. I think he was hiding in that little Lone Mountain alleyway before he robbed her.

F: When did the attacker divert his attention to you?

V: He tried to grab my phone, but then realized that the girl, whose backpack he stole, was still chasing him, so he pushed me aside and ran off.

F: What did you do?

V: I ran to campus as fast as I could. I called Public Safety and they told me to call the police. I filed a report with the police, and then Public Safety called me back to file a report with them. Then, I went home and tried to take a nap but I couldn’t fall asleep.

F: Have you made any changes to your daily routine?

V: I’ve been getting friends to drive me home. If that’s not possible I get friends to take the bus with me and walk me home. I might invest in a taser. I think [the assailant] used the mask purposefully to scare people, and it worked.

Staff Editorial: Maybe We Should Have Said: “Student Robbed at Gunpoint; Were You Notified?”

Last week we the Foghorn broke the news of a student being robbed at gunpoint on Anza Street. The headline read: “Campus resident mugged at gunpoint, students not notified.” University President the Rev. Stephen A. Privett S.J., found fault with our headline and sought further clarification. We, at the Foghorn, stick by our headline and story. Our headline read “Students not notified,” implying that a majority of students were not, and still have not, been notified. This statement is correct.

However, we would like to clarify two specific points, per Father Privett’s request. Privett pointed out in a series of emails to the Foghorn that according to Webster’s dictionary, a “mugging” is an “assault.” He disputed the use of the word in the headline because as the story made clear, the student was not physically harmed. He also asked for clarification regarding the survey we published along with the story.

This story was not meant to mislead the public or sensationalize the event, but to inform the public. As the student newspaper, our aim is to do what is best for the student population we serve.  If the Foghorn had not published the article, most students may never have known about the robbery. It is vital that students receive this information for their own safety. We hope that when students ask themselves: “Is it a good idea to walk home on Anza St. at 2:00 a.m?” their answer will now be: “Probably not. I read in the Foghorn that someone got robbed there recently.” The student could then call the safety shuttle to take them home, a service we reported on in last week’s issue.

Public Safety’s aim is also to serve the student population; we have shared goals. It is important to remember that even public service entities, like the Foghorn and Public Safety, occasionally make mistakes. In this instance, Public Safety did not realize that their email was not sent out to students. They realized this only when a Foghorn reporter inquired about it.

There was some confusion regarding the survey that accompanied our story. We had asked students if they had received an email from Public Safety regarding the robbery.  An overwhelming majority said “no.” Strangely, a few students said “yes”.  Our theory is that these students may have been desk workers at the dorm buildings. Desk workers did receive notice of the robbery,  so they could be on the lookout for anyone using the victim’s stolen One Card. Another theory is that students assumed they received an email, without checking their inbox. Regardless, the survey was unclear. To correct this, the Foghorn put out a newer, clearer survey this week regarding the “Mugging” story. The results can be found in this issue’s News section, as well as a follow-up story.

The final point of contention was the Foghorn’s use of the word “mugging.” The word, as many students understand it, is a synonym for robbery, meaning property was taken by threat of force, rather than actual use of force.  We apologize if anyone misconstrued our usage of the word to mean anything other than an armed robbery.

Ultimately, the Foghorn staff is thankful we were able to keep our readers informed. Like the Foghorn, Public Safety’s aim is also to serve the USF community. We believe they are trying their best, just like the Foghorn. However, mistakes are inevitable. Last week we made a mistake in our usage of the word “mugging” and Public Safety overlooked sending out an important notice to the majority of students. Neither mistake was intentional.