Robberies near Full Sail prompt caution at UCF

A late night walk or bike ride home from night classes, or even a moment outside for a cell phone conversation after the sun goes down seem like harmless activities for a college student.

However, to a thief or robber, such activities mean opportunity, and according to UCF Police and the Orange County Sheriff's Crime Analysis Department, similar situations have led to about a dozen robberies and attacks in the Full Sail area since Dec. 1.

Several of those attacked were Full Sail students.

No crimes that fit that signature have happened to UCF students this year, said Cpl. James Roop, the UCF Police special events coordinator and former public information officer.

However, in an e-mail alert earlier this month, Roop warned students about the local robberies and offered safety tips to help them avoid becoming victims of crimes.

"Students tend to be more involved in their personal activities than their personal safety," UCF Police Chief Richard Beary said. "We need to try to continually remind [students] of safety tips and being aware of their surroundings."

When Beary received information about the Full Sail robberies and attacks, he said he felt it was important for UCF students to know because that area is still a part of their community.

"What I saw was a pattern of crime," Beary said. "We have students that live all over the east Orange County area, so I just wanted to make sure they were aware to keep precaution to avoid becoming victims."

According to Roop, in the past, the most commonly reported crime in the UCF community has been theft and more serious forms of it such as burglary.

UCF Police's 2009-10 Annual Report & Safety Guide states that in 2008, there were 75 reports of robbery, burglary and motor vehicle theft on the main campus combined.

The least of the reports were robberies, and the majority — 41 — were motor vehicle thefts.

Roop said students end up becoming victims in several ways, such as not being aware of their surroundings.

Students often distract themselves by listening to their iPods and talking on their phones, he said.

Students should not only be aware of what is going on around them, but should also avoid leaving belongings unattended, Roop said.

Students shouldn't walk around with their valuable property in plain sight.

Doing so could attract robbers.

Being out alone late at night is another thing that can put students in danger, Roop said.

Because of the late night and early morning classes that Full Sail students are required to take, it is difficult for them to avoid being out late at night, said Francis Thomas, a Full Sail graphic design student who is among the robbery victims.

Thomas was robbed on Dec. 16 between the corridors of two buildings in the University Walk Apartments complex.

He said he was walking home from a class that usually ends around 1 a.m. but let out early around 9:50 p.m. that day.

He said he heard footsteps behind him while walking to his apartment.

"I just assumed it was a friend of mine and so I turned around, and as soon as I turned I got tackled," he said.

According to the Orange County Sheriff report, a man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants tackled Thomas and began to kick and punch him.

Thomas said a second suspect hit him and tried to take his bag.

He was not sure if the men had weapons on them, so he did what he could to avoid finding out.

"I was trying to decide whether to fight back," Thomas said. "I wanted to make sure I didn't get seriously hurt, so I just curled up in a little ball and protected my head. I knew exactly what they were after because they didn't ask me for money or anything. The one guy just went straight for the backpack."

He said the men removed his backpack and ran away with his cell phone, his laptop and some headphones.

Thomas was supposed to graduate in January, but now he must wait until May because of having to recreate his graduation portfolio that was saved on his stolen laptop.

"It took a day to sink in that it wasn't just the laptop that got stolen, it was the work and the time I put into the things I was proud of," Thomas said.

He said that this was his third time experiencing theft in the Full Sail area.

The first time his Xbox was stolen from his residence, and six months later his bike was stolen.

The other attacks on Full Sail students were similar to Thomas' and resulted in the loss of several laptops.

Thomas said he doesn't think his school is unsafe, but the fact that students have to walk around late at night with computers on their backs is a problem.

He suggests other students start getting rides or finding safe means of transportation.

"If Full Sail is going to have students out at one in the morning with computers, they should provide some sort of transportation or shuttle service," Thomas said.

Full Sail's public relations office declined to comment on the recent robbery situations.

Thomas chose not to fight back, but Roop said everyone's response depends on the situation.

He said that the best thing to do if you are being robbed is to just give the attackers what they want.

People have their own sense of whether they are able to defend themselves and should just pay attention to what their gut instinct tells them to do, he said.

The main goal is to avoid harm.

"If they're wanting the keys to your car, throw your keys one way and run the next way and get out of there as fast as you can," Roop said. "And try to call the police immediately when you're at safe a distance from that person."

Roop said that property crimes in general are the hardest crimes to make arrests for because people don't want to take the time to prosecute or because the victim doesn't remember enough about the incident for a suspect to be caught.