Editors Note: This story was published in the Fall 2009 semester in review edition.

Chief of Police Barbara O’Connor informed the campus community Monday of numerous crimes committed this past weekend.

On Friday, Dec. 11, a robbery occurred at the intersection of Fifth and White streets. The victim sustained an abrasion to the cheek after being punched in the face, which knocked him unconscious. He awoke to find his wallet had been stolen.

An attempted robbery occurred Sunday, Dec. 13 at 7:10 p.m. at the intersection of Second Street and Springfield Avenue.

The victim was pulled into an alley, where she was thrown to the ground by the offenders and kicked in the face and torso. The offenders attempted to obtain property from the victim. Screams from the victim alerted a nearby resident who identified the offenders as three black males in their early 20s. The victim sustained several scratches to her face.

Later that same evening at approximately 7:55 p.m. another robbery occurred. In the 400 block of N. Gregory Street, the victim was attacked by two or three people while returning to his car after delivering pizzas.

The offenders struck the victim in the head, which knocked him to the ground. The offenders then proceeded to steal property from the victim and flee. One offender was identified as a white male and one as a black male, both seeming to be of college-age. The victim was transported to a local hospital after sustaining a potential head injury.

Around 11:30 p.m. Dec. 13, a robbery was reported on the ninth floor of Oglesby Hall at Florida Avenue Residence Halls. The victim was punched in the face, kneed in the groin area and then threatened with an implied knife so the offenders could remove property from the victim.

Two suspects were located, one of which was arrested for armed robbery and the other was arrested for armed robbery and intimidation. Two remaining offenders are being pursued by University police.

O’Connor stated that University police would continue to investigate the cases and to work with the Champaign and Urbana Police Departments to prevent further criminal activity.

The Division of Public Safety Web site advises students to take advantage of SafeRides and to avoid walking alone, particularly at night or in poorly-lit areas.

On Sept. 14, a young woman was assaulted at the corner of Fourth and Peabody Streets at 1 a.m. University Police increased the number of patrols on campus after the incident, and released a crime alert urging students to take precaution at night if traveling alone.

Police presence was also increased on Nov. 16 at Everitt Laboratory after a series of threatening messages was discovered on the bathroom walls targeting Asian-American students.

A second individual later wrote a message inside Everitt claiming to shoot the Caucasian individual planning to commit the crime.

The threat was never carried out and the individuals who wrote the message were never caught.

Police were also involved on Nov. 25 when University graduate student Yingbo Zhou was killed in a hit-and-run accident on Interstate 74 while returning from a trip to Niagara Falls over Thanksgiving Break.

Police worked to relay as many details of the accident as possible to Zhou’s parents, who live in China. State police charged the driver for failure to report an accident involving personal injury or death. The man faces a prison sentence of up to 30 years if convicted.

On Dec. 7th Champaign Police served violation notices to 11 campus bars for breaching the city’s “happy hour ordinance.” The bars, who were participating in the “Fall Barscramble 2009,” were cited as promoting and hosting drinking events and games, which Champaign law prohibits.

All 11 businesses could face fines of up to $2000, or even temporary suspension. Police are working closely with Champaign Mayor Gerald Schweighart, who said he hopes to serve severe penalties.

Sgt. Scott Friedlein of Champaign Police said patrol officers will continue to monitor the campus bars over winter break, with New Year’s Eve coming up soon.

Looking farther into the future, Sgt. Friedlein said planning meetings for March’s “Unofficial” will be starting soon.

“We will form a strategy for handling Unofficial based on the outcome of next week’s hearings,” he said. “Right now it’s too early to tell what will happen.”