Door was unlocked during robbery
Joe Astrouski/City Editor
Issue date: 3/12/09 Section: News
Two men responsible for a reported armed robbery Tuesday walked into the victim's apartment at 950 Fourth St. through an unlocked door, according to the apartment building's management.
Property manager Melissa Phillips said the apartment complex is equipped with video surveillance cameras, which filmed the robbery.
"According to the video footage, the tenants' door was unlocked and two males walked right into the apartment," Phillips said. "We cannot stress enough the importance of simply locking both the bottom lock as well as the deadbolt."
Phillips said the building's owners are not updating their security measures because of the robbery.
"We are not taking any extra precautions because every precaution is currently in place with security camera, alarm systems, doors with both bottom locks and deadbolts, … peepholes and aggressive lighting in all common areas," Phillips said.
The building's video surveillance footage has all been turned over to the Charleston police, Phillips said.
Police chief Mark Jenkins said Tuesday that one man had been home alone when two men entered his apartment and forced him to the floor and added that the victim claimed one of the suspects had a gun.
Jenkins said after the alleged robbers left, the victim reportedly found a video game system missing.
Campus-wide alerts were sent out about the robbery on Tuesday night.
Alert EIU, Eastern's emergency text-message system, sent subscribers a message around 9:30 p.m.
The message reported an armed robbery, described two suspects and directed recipients to check their university e-mail accounts.
Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs, also sent an e-mail to students, faculty and staff reporting the robbery, describing the suspects and listing safety tips.
Mark Hudson, director of University Housing and Dining Services, said his department took extra safety measures Tuesday night.
"We locked the outside doors earlier … and we had our night assistants come in earlier," Hudson said.
Hudson said his department is not taking any new precautions.
"We have things in place that are safeguards," Hudson said. "(We're) waiting to see what the investigation uncovers."
The student recreation center also closed early, shutting its doors at 11 p.m. instead of midnight said director Ken Baker.
"Other buildings on campus closed at eleven," Baker said. "So, if they close part of the union and the dorms are closed … where are (the robbers) going to go?"
Joe Astrouski can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmastrouski@eiu.edu
Property manager Melissa Phillips said the apartment complex is equipped with video surveillance cameras, which filmed the robbery.
"According to the video footage, the tenants' door was unlocked and two males walked right into the apartment," Phillips said. "We cannot stress enough the importance of simply locking both the bottom lock as well as the deadbolt."
Phillips said the building's owners are not updating their security measures because of the robbery.
"We are not taking any extra precautions because every precaution is currently in place with security camera, alarm systems, doors with both bottom locks and deadbolts, … peepholes and aggressive lighting in all common areas," Phillips said.
The building's video surveillance footage has all been turned over to the Charleston police, Phillips said.
Police chief Mark Jenkins said Tuesday that one man had been home alone when two men entered his apartment and forced him to the floor and added that the victim claimed one of the suspects had a gun.
Jenkins said after the alleged robbers left, the victim reportedly found a video game system missing.
Campus-wide alerts were sent out about the robbery on Tuesday night.
Alert EIU, Eastern's emergency text-message system, sent subscribers a message around 9:30 p.m.
The message reported an armed robbery, described two suspects and directed recipients to check their university e-mail accounts.
Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs, also sent an e-mail to students, faculty and staff reporting the robbery, describing the suspects and listing safety tips.
Mark Hudson, director of University Housing and Dining Services, said his department took extra safety measures Tuesday night.
"We locked the outside doors earlier … and we had our night assistants come in earlier," Hudson said.
Hudson said his department is not taking any new precautions.
"We have things in place that are safeguards," Hudson said. "(We're) waiting to see what the investigation uncovers."
The student recreation center also closed early, shutting its doors at 11 p.m. instead of midnight said director Ken Baker.
"Other buildings on campus closed at eleven," Baker said. "So, if they close part of the union and the dorms are closed … where are (the robbers) going to go?"
Joe Astrouski can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmastrouski@eiu.edu
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