Campus Crime Reminds Us To Be Careful of Our Surroundings

By Matt Griesmyer

On March 3 at 5:55 p.m., a woman was robbed near the southwest corner of the Bayou Building.  A full-time employee and graduate student of University of Houston-Clear Lake was on break outside the Bayou Building when a man approached and demanded her jewelry.  After turning over a pair of earrings, the assailant struck the UHCL employee with a closed fist, attempted to grab her necklace and watch, and then fled toward Horsepen Bayou.  The victim, who prefers to remain anonymous, has been at the school as a student since 2000.
The assailant is described as an Hispanic male, 5 foot 9 inches, mid-20’s to early 30’s with black wavy short hair.  The male had a scar over his left eye with a 7 inch tattoo of a cross on the underside of his right forearm.  The man was last seen wearing a green t-shirt with white and yellow lettering, blue jeans and white shoes.  
This crime is considered a strong armed robbery, which is something of a rarity at the UHCL campus.  A strong armed robbery is a robbery when no weapon is displayed.
Before this event, the victim felt very comfortable around campus.
“If this hadn’t happened, I would still walk down that same path and not think twice,” she said.  “Being this comfortable made the experience a lot worse.  This is part of my home, this is part of my community, this is part of my life.  I feel like someone came into my house and tried to hurt me.  I feel very violated.”
Police Chief Paul Willingham said that while he has been at the campus for a year and a half, veteran officers reported that nothing like this has happened before on campus to their knowledge.
“It’s certainly the first ‘on-person’ crime that we have had at this campus,” Willingham said.  “As far as anyone getting injured from an assault-type situation, this is the first one that I know of.  I have officers that have been here for seven or eight years who can’t remember something like this ever happening.  This is the first felony related assault/robbery situation that we have had in most people’s memory.”
    This crime reminds us to be constantly aware of our surroundings in situations where we are comfortable.  
“I felt too comfortable and I let my guard down,” said the victim.
“To be out in public and not be aware of your surroundings is a mistake in any case,” Willingham said.            “You’re certainly more susceptible off campus to this type of attack, but this attack proves, we are not immune from it.”
With spring break only a week away, college students are reminded that while taking advantage of the vacation time from school, it is important to have fun, but also to be careful.  
Willingham reminds us to stay alert and focused while participating in spring break festivities.  
“During spring break season, keep in mind that people go to those kinds of places [spring break destinations] to prey,” Willingham said.  “If you’re going to go out, keep to the buddy system with someone you trust.”
The victim of this crime has valuable advice on keeping your mind on your surroundings.
“Be aware,” she said.  “Fear is a very important instinct and it’s there for a reason, and follow it.  It’s OK to be afraid, its more important to be aware.”
A popular activity during spring break is drinking, and here Willingham also reminds us to be responsible.
“I know people like to drink and get drunk, but the fact of the matter is you’re more susceptible [to violent crimes],” Willingham said.  Have fun, but have fun with reason and control, because your own self-protection mechanisms are impaired when you’re drunk.”
During spring break, Willingham advises students to remember to always be aware of their surroundings, and above all, stay safe.
If anyone can provide information about this robbery or the assailant described, please contact the UHCL Police Department at 281-283-2222.

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