Shortly after midnight on Friday, Oct. 16, Sacred Heart Public Safety received a report of an attempted robbery.
A Sacred Heart student returning to her off-campus residence on Stratfield Place in Bridgeport was approached in her driveway by two armed suspects. The two demanded money and valuables. After discovering that she had no cash or valuables with her or in her vehicle, the men fled from the area.
The suspects were identified as being two Black males, between the ages of 20-30, wearing dark-colored clothes. Both men were armed and flashed their firearms at the student.
Shea Edwards, Deputy Chief of the Department of Public Safety, said, “Any crime that affects our community members is very upsetting, regardless of whether it occurs on campus or off. The priority is always about personal safety and well-being, so we are all thankful that no one was physically injured.”
Statistically, the City of Bridgeport leads Connecticut in number of robberies. According to an official FBI “Offenses Known to Law Enforcement” table from 2019, Bridgeport had 392 robberies and 555 burglaries. The city with the second most robberies in the state was New Haven, with 321 robberies and 659 burglaries. The two cities are fairly close, about half an hour away from each other.
Even though there were no injuries, students were shocked and startled by the news that came Saturday, Oct. 17.
“I didn’t even know about the robbery. I hope the girl is fine and is recovering from the traumatic event. I hope the Sacred Heart community can come together with the city of Bridgeport so we can feel safer on or off-campus, no matter the time,” said senior Saptak Talwar.
A similar event occurred in February. However, the previous crime took place at a Sacred Heart off-campus residence hall. On Feb. 6, two males were seen attempting to pry the front door off the building of Taft Commons. A Public Safety officer confronted them, and they fled the scene.
“Over the last four years that I have attended this school, I have heard many stories or situations like this. It is unfortunate that these events happen. However, I do believe the university does a good job keeping us safe,” said graduate student Brianne Lauria.
Many students trust Sacred Heart’s preparation and are accustomed to these situations. Public Safety has 45 officers that work to make the Sacred Heart community safer.
“Unfortunately, there are no new leads in the current investigation. As additional information is uncovered, we will share it with the community. Public Safety has worked with Bridgeport Police to increase the frequency of patrols throughout the neighborhood,” said Edwards.
As part of the university’s effort to keep the community safe, SHU uses an emergency notification system which can be downloaded on any phone. The application, “SHU Safe,” can be utilized to quickly and easily contact Public Safety.
The Office of Public Safety plans to continue to work with Bridgeport Police in order to keep both on- and off-campus residencies safe.
“The Department of Public Safety has worked with the Bridgeport Police to increase the frequency of patrols throughout the neighborhood. Going forward, we are looking to host a meeting for our off-campus students to review and discuss crime prevention techniques and personal safety tips,” said Edwards.
The Sacred Heart Department of Public Safety urges the community to report anything suspicious to Bridgeport Police (203-581-5100) and Public Safety (203-371-7995).
