Miriam Clay, Egleide Elenes and Amber Scruggs have one thing in common.
Since mid-December, each woman, along with another unnamed victim, has had her purse snatched near a residence hall.
The first incident occurred on Dec. 16 at around 11 p.m. on the east side of Richardson Towers South.
According to the police report, the victim said the suspect approached her and as they passed each other, he grabbed her purse, pushed her to the ground, and ran toward The University of Memphis Information Lot.
The second incident occurred the same weekend at around 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 18. Freshman Elenes was walking from her car in the girls' parking lot of Richardson Towers.
"I saw a black male standing about 20 feet from the door. It looked like he was on a cell phone. I think he was pretending. He asked me if the doors were open, and since it was Saturday night and the doors aren't locked until 2 a.m., I told him yes," Elenes said. "As we walked toward the door, he ran at me and took my purse. I saw him run east on Central and North on Patterson. I don't remember much, but I do remember those details."
A month-and-a-half later, on Feb. 4, Scruggs was approached in the Carpenter Complex parking lot by an unknown man who asked for her belongings. She threw her purse at him and ran towards the apartments.
The next night, Clay was walking from West Hall to her car in the lot across the street when an unknown man approached her and demanded her purse.
Neither victim suffered serious injuries.
According to the police report, the first victim suffered minor bruises on her left knee but refused medical attention.
"We don't think that any of the crimes are related," said Derek Myers, Deputy Director of Police Services.
He said the suspects used different methods to commit the crimes.
"You look for a pattern with these things. One suspect used a mask, while the other one did not. Their physical descriptions were different, so there really is no pattern," he said.
Since these incidents, Residence Life and Police Services have joined forces to inform residents of their safety options.
"On Feb. 6, Residence Life met with all RA's from each residence hall," said Peter Groenendyk, associate director of Residence Life. "We have put flyers on every door in Carpenter Complex, and every residence hall has them on each floor."
Meanwhile, residents are taking their own measures to ensure their safety.
"I try to keep a time limit to when I'm on campus at night. I try to stay in places where there are a lot of people," said Hosanna Copelane, a freshman psychology major and Richardson Towers resident.
"I make sure that I'm not walking alone at night, and I don't carry a purse or a lot of money," said Toshua Young, freshman education major who also lives in Richardson. "That way if they want something from me, they don't have anything to take."
Police Services and Residence Life said there are things individuals can do to stay safe around campus.
"I would say to use Tiger Patrol and exercise good judgment," Groenendyk said.
"At night, don't talk on your cell phone or listen to your iPod. Stay fully alert and aware of your surroundings," Myers said.
