WITI-TV, MILWAUKEE -
Milwaukee police are preparing to saturate the city's east side. It's all an effort to make residents feel safer in light of recent armed robberies. Police believe they may have two groups of robbers working the city's east side.
It's a spike in robbery on Milwaukee's east side that no one wants to see. It's causing an increase in officers on the streets not only Milwaukee, but UWM Campus police as well.
UW-Milwaukee police are increasing patrols on campus after there were three armed robberies in just one hour. A rabbi was chased by at least four men with two guns. In another incident, an army reservist was held up but the suspect gave back his property. All on or near Oakland Ave and all within a span of forty minutes. Police say the group may have started their crime spree with another robbery near 13th and Cleveland. MPD Captain Patrick Mitchell says, "You get a group of determined people like that they are going to go out, and rob until we do something about it or get good citizens cooperation. Ideally we'd get one phone from a citizen saying 'I just saw a car with three guys milling about. Can you come and check it out.' It could be something as simple as that that breaks it wide open for us."
Milwaukee police statistics show in the past two and a half weeks thee has been a 1200% increase in robberies. 13 of them since October 22nd. Police have made several arrests, but believe there are more robbers still out there. Mitchell says, "It's a big concern for us, they're a brazen group in the fact they've done four in the city of Milwaukee."
Students are concerned about the rash of robberies near campus.
"We get lots of e-mails every time something happens," said student Cassie Cornelius. "It's kind of scary."
The UW-Milwaukee chancellor is asking to meet with Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn about the situation.
Police do say overall crime in the area is down, such as burglaries, and car thefts. They've also had a big presence in the area, making hundreds more traffic stops on the east side than last year.
It's a spike in robbery on Milwaukee's east side that no one wants to see. It's causing an increase in officers on the streets not only Milwaukee, but UWM Campus police as well.
UW-Milwaukee police are increasing patrols on campus after there were three armed robberies in just one hour. A rabbi was chased by at least four men with two guns. In another incident, an army reservist was held up but the suspect gave back his property. All on or near Oakland Ave and all within a span of forty minutes. Police say the group may have started their crime spree with another robbery near 13th and Cleveland. MPD Captain Patrick Mitchell says, "You get a group of determined people like that they are going to go out, and rob until we do something about it or get good citizens cooperation. Ideally we'd get one phone from a citizen saying 'I just saw a car with three guys milling about. Can you come and check it out.' It could be something as simple as that that breaks it wide open for us."
Milwaukee police statistics show in the past two and a half weeks thee has been a 1200% increase in robberies. 13 of them since October 22nd. Police have made several arrests, but believe there are more robbers still out there. Mitchell says, "It's a big concern for us, they're a brazen group in the fact they've done four in the city of Milwaukee."
Students are concerned about the rash of robberies near campus.
"We get lots of e-mails every time something happens," said student Cassie Cornelius. "It's kind of scary."
The UW-Milwaukee chancellor is asking to meet with Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn about the situation.
Police do say overall crime in the area is down, such as burglaries, and car thefts. They've also had a big presence in the area, making hundreds more traffic stops on the east side than last year.
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