Penn State Police have joined the investigation into two armed robberies that took place right off campus nearly one week ago, but some students say authorities are too tightlipped on the details.
At about 10 p.m. Thursday, two unidentified men held up a pizza delivery driver at gunpoint outside The Pointe apartment complex, 501 Vairo Blvd., taking an undisclosed amount of cash, according to the Patton Township Police Department.
In what police believe could be a related incident, two men carjacked another man at about 9 p.m. Friday on Park Crest Lane off of Martin Street. The assailants then drove the man to a Boalsburg ATM, where the robbers forced him to withdraw cash from his account before beating him over the head with a handgun, the Ferguson Township Police Department said.
Police did not confirm whether the driver was a Penn State student, but said a Penn State parking pass was in the car.
Penn State Police said they are working closely with both Ferguson and Patton Township Police, but could not give any further comment because the investigation is ongoing. Neither the conditions of either man who was robbed, nor the total cash stolen has been released. And the lack of information has some students worried about their safety.
Kate Crosby, who lives at The Pointe, said she came home Thursday to find out her roommate had been questioned by the police. Officers asked if the roommates were OK, but would not tell Crosby's roommate why.
The next day, police came back to get her roommate's information, telling Crosby (junior-hotel restaurant and institutional management) it was "nothing serious."
"It freaked me out," Crosby said. "As a resident, I have a right to know."
Ferguson Township Police said Sunday authorities were planning to release more information Wednesday. But on Wednesday, police had yet to release more details, and said detectives are still working on the case.
Anne Schettig, a resident of The Pointe, was walking home from the bus stop the night of the attack. Schettig (senior-public relations) said she considered off-campus life to be safer, but now is not so sure. She said she wants more lighting around the buildings so people can see what -- or who -- is around them.
