A string of strong armed robberies that happened in the Martin Luther King Boulevard corridor has police stepping up patrols this morning.
Police are looking for several suspects (who are reported to be juveniles) that are committing strong armed robberies of several individuals walking to school or waiting at bus stops.
The incidents began shortly before 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the 400 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard when a female middle school aged student who was walking to her performing arts school located in the 500 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard was approached by at least one male suspect who demanded personal possessions. The girl suffered minor physical injuries after being forcefully thrown to the ground and had her cell phone removed by the suspect.
The victim arrived to school and told school officials who immediately called police.
The suspect took several items before fleeing the scene according to reports.
At around 8:45 p.m., in the 200 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, police responded to the area on reports of a group of male suspects walking the area robbing people.
Authorities arrived to the scene and located a victim who told authorities that as many as four black male juveniles took a cell phone and a wallet after repeated demands and threats of physical attacks.
A short time later, police located a victim of a strong armed robbery in the area of Raymond Boulevard and University Ave. where Rutgers Police joined in on the search for several male juvenile suspects walking around taking items from preyed upon victims.
There were no serious injuries reported in any of the strong armed robberies.
NOTE: Police reports obtained by RLS Metro Breaking News show an escalating occurrence of vandalized vehicles in the areas of Martin Luther King Boulevard between Court Street and William Street within the last three weeks. Reports showed that vandals smashed windows of cars, taking personal items before fleeing the scene. Most of the vehicles belonged to educators from area middle and high schools according to reports.