OSU Students Targeted In Break-Ins, Armed Robberies

Students Targeted (Added: March 18, 2009)

OSU students are the targets of a series of home break-ins near campus, and police are searching for suspects. (more)

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OSU Students Targeted In Break-Ins, Armed Robberies

Tied up and held at gunpoint, Ohio State students have been the targets of a series of home break-ins near campus, and police are searching for suspects.

By: | NBC4i.com
Published: March 18, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Tied up and held at gunpoint, Ohio State students have been the targets of a series of home break-ins near campus, and police are searching for suspects.

Three home invasions occurred within the last week, NBC 4's Ana Jackson reported.

Police said that in each incident, two suspects armed with guns kicked down a door and confront four or five students inside.

"We were up in my room just hanging out and we were coming down to play some video games. They surprised us in the living room. They told us not to move or they were going to blow our brains out," a victim said. "I was shoved on the floor in the hallway. The gun was in my face so I just froze and did whatever they said because I just didn't want to get shot."

The first attack occurred on March 9 at a home on East Avenue. Police said the suspects tied up four students inside and ransacked the house.

After the robbery, police said, the suspects drove one of the victims' cars to a National City Bank on Cleveland Avenue.

Security cameras took a photo of the suspects withdrawing money from a victim's account.

Six days later, the same car was stopped at an OVI checkpoint on West Broad Street and Georgesville Road. The driver managed to escape, but sheriff's deputies recovered the vehicle.

Until the suspects are caught, students said they are taking extra precautions.

"We've got the security system on the doors on the windows so that will help if anyone tries to break in, we'll hear it," said Heath Cogswell, an OSU student.

Police are urging students to be extra careful about locking doors and windows and activating security systems -- especially during spring break to cut back on burglaries and robberies.

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