Downtown Troy has been overrun this summer and now fall with a series of muggings--some at gun point, some during daytime hours, almost all of them, allegedly, at the hands of teenagers. Troy PD caught four kids in an undercover operation last week and two of the alleged would-be muggers were 13 years old.
Three days ago, two women were robbed near Russell Sage. Today, RPI sent out the below crime alert. I have lived in Troy for nearly a decade now, and I don't remember a time when downtown seemed this dangerous. People are getting skittish and some have started a neighborhood group. Others are weighing the benefits and risks of living in downtown.
The Tutunjian administration has devoted so much of its effort into making downtown attractive to the affluent, and now, instead, it is attractive to the muggers.
On Monday October 5, 2009 at approximately 4:50pm on the 8th Street Approach staircase, a male Rensselaer student was approached from behind by two suspects. One of the suspects struck the victim in the head with his fist. The other suspect took victim’s cell phone and IPod. Both suspects fled south on foot. No weapons were displayed or threatened.
SUSPECTS DESCRIPTION:Suspect #1: Black male, Approx. 16 years of age wearing Red T-shirt
Suspect #2: Black male, Approx. 16 years of age wearing Black T-shirt.
Tips or information relating to this incident should be directed to the Troy Police Department at 270-4426 or the Department of Public Safety 276-6656 (24 hours a day) or the Department of Public Safety Investigations at 276-6603.
I've lived in Troy on and off for about seven years and currently live downtown. After the rash of muggings in the past couple months I plan on getting out of here as soon as my lease is up. Living with the fear of getting mugged has taken away any charm there may have been to living in Troy.
As a graduate student I am no longer safe walking to campus and campus safety does not offer escorts downtown. At night when I park my car on the city streets I feel I have to run home lest I be accosted. If I want to meet friends at night, I have to drive the couple blocks rather than walk, since it's no longer safe even in well light areas.
Even walking with another person or in a group or during the day no longer offers any substantial amount of protection. I appreciate the fact that Troy PD are making an effort, but both RPI Campus Safety and the Troy police need to step things up because the situation is just getting ridiculous.
Posted by: jess | October 06, 2009 at 03:23 PM