More than 10 robberies had been reported recently, many involving international students whose mobile phones and other equipment were snatched out of their hands, according to North Melbourne police.
Senior Constable Nick Parissis urged students to be aware of their surroundings and to take precautionary measures.
“Don’t be caught up in the communications bubble — ie, don’t be distracted by phone conversations,” he said in a statement provided to The Citizen. “This is not only in regards to stopping crime from happening but it’s also about being safe as pedestrians.”
The increased security measures follow a plea to university management from Melbourne University’s student union, which reported “a large number of messages” from concerned students.
Tony Wang, education advocate and a former president of UMSU International, which represents overseas students, said a serious of snatch-and-run incidents had been reported at numerous locations around campus including Lincoln Square, College Square on Swanston Street and outside the Spot Building on Berkeley Street, which houses the business school.
“By the time we reached out [to the university], more than 300 students had supported a petition for university actions including strengthening security after 8pm and reminding students of support and safety services,” said Mr Wang.
Taking care: what police suggest ► Be aware of your surroundings
► Do not be caught up in the communications bubble; stay alert
► Know who is around you
► Do not advertise valuables by openly displaying iPhones, iPads, laptops etc
► Use well travelled or busy roads when walking about especially at night
► Report any crime, especially if you are the victim
► In regards to witnessing a crime or something suspicious “if you see something, say something”
He added that concerns were particularly strong among the Chinese student community, with posts about incidents in the larger university precinct being widely shared on Chinese-language social media platforms such as Wechat and Sina Weibo.
Bachelor of Commerce student Yvonne Huang witnessed one such robbery early in the evening on February 11. She had been waiting for her tram home around 8:30pm at Lincoln Square when two men confronted nearby fellow students.
“There were not many people around at the time, I guess roughly seven or eight,” said Ms Huang, 19. “Two girls were standing metres away from me, both on their phones.”
Ms Huang noticed two “big guys” loitering at the other end of the platform. “And then, almost in a blink of an eye, they snatched the phone from one of the girls and ran off,” she said.
According to Ms Huang, the men fled, joining another five to six partners, leaving the victims stunned. “[The girls] were caught off guard, in shock and didn’t know what to do,” she said.
The incident has since left a mark, said Ms Huang, who is now “too scared” to travel home alone after dark.
“When it’s late, I can’t walk alone and need to be accompanied by friends,” she said. “I even can’t help holding on to my purse and mobile phone whenever I see similar-looking men on the street.”
She described the offenders as tall, wearing loose sports jackets and shorts and of African appearance.
In response to community concerns, university officials met with the Student Union and police to consider possible action.
Yu Kong Low, the president of UMSU International, attended the meeting with representatives of Victoria Police and leaders of several welfare and safety services including Mal Abley, the head of campus security.
“Uni security said that they would start conducting high-visibility patrols around Lincoln Square despite it not falling under their jurisdiction,” Mr Low told The Citizen. “Besides that, the university’s ‘safer community’ team has been circulating info blurbs that included personal safety tips and information regarding the 24/7 security escort service.”
In a recent letter to the student community, acting provost Professor Richard James said the university was committed to the safety and welfare of all students.
“The university takes the safety and wellbeing of its students to be of paramount importance,” he wrote, reminding the community of on-campus support schemes.
“The Safer Community Program, for example, offers many resources from personal safety tips to the free UniSafe app that has a personal alarm and links to emergency contacts, and campus maps, amongst other things.”