Male intruder entering student apartments, touching victims

Four University of Richmond students reported to campus police Tuesday that a man had entered their apartment during the night.

All of the apartments the intruder entered were unlocked, police said. Two of the incidents occurred Sunday in the 900 and 1000 blocks of the University Forest Apartments, one occurred Monday in the 200 block and one Aug. 31 in the 900 block.

Two of the students reported that the man touched their leg while they were sleeping. Three of the victims are women and one is male.

One student said the man entered her apartment at 4:45 a.m. Sept. 14 while she was sleeping on a futon in her living room.

"I woke up because I felt a tickle on my thigh," she said. "I looked down and saw a hand on my thigh. He was laying on the floor lightly stroking my leg."

She said she sat straight up and the man ran out and closed her front door. For safety reasons, the student requested she not be identified. She said she has not been able to sleep in her apartment since the incident.

University police do not know whether the same man committed all the crimes. Victims consistently described the intruder as a male, 30 to 40 years old and shorter than average. Different victims have described him as either Asian, Hispanic or Middle Eastern.

Senior Marcus Krzastek said a man came into his apartment around 6 a.m. on Sept. 13. A number of people had just left his apartment, UFA 1100.

"I saw an outline through the back window blinds," Krzastek said. "I thought it was my neighbor so I didn't think much of it. I then heard the front door open about 30 seconds later and someone walking around."

When the person didn't say anything, Krzastek said he stood up to see who it was and saw a man who was around 5 feet, 3 inches and "looked just like Joel Cairo from 'The Maltese Falcon.'" The man looked as if he were surprised, smiled and left. Krzastek said he then called his neighbors and told them to lock their doors.

Burglary and breaking and entering are not unusual crimes on campus, University Police Captain Beth Simonds said, but a string of these types of incidents is rare.

Simonds said the campus was safe, but urged students to be aware that crime occurs on campus and to notify police of any suspicious people or incidents.

University police are encouraging students to lock doors at all times and watch for suspicious people. More police officers have been added around the apartments on foot and in vehicles.

Incidents such as this one are rare at the apartments, Andy Gurka, area coordinator for the apartments, wrote in an e-mail to UFA residents Tuesday morning.

"It shows each of us that we are not insular to crime and suspicious behavior," he said. "It also serves as an opportunity for everyone to take care of their own security and the emphasize the importance of neighbors watching out for neighbors."

Contact staff writers Megan Wilson and Stephanie Rice at megan.wilson@richmond.edu and stephanie.rice@richmond.edu