Two men in their early 20s were victims of armed robbery in recent incidents near campus, East Lansing police officers said.
Three men attacked a 22-year-old East Lansing man Tuesday, and another two men attempted to stab a 21-year-old on Albert Avenue near Collingwood Drive Aug. 24.
As of Thursday afternoon, East Lansing police Lt. Kim Johnson said all suspects were still at large.
There were 31 robberies in East Lansing last year, down from 35 in 2002. East Lansing armed robbery statistics for 2003 or 2004 were not available Thursday. On MSU's campus, there were four reports of armed robberies last year and one in 2002.
The 22-year-old was in his Capitol Villa apartment when the suspects knocked on the door, East Lansing police Sgt. Jeff Murphy reported in a statement. When he opened the door, the suspects hit him on the head with a handgun.
They entered the apartment and stole the resident's wallet and cell phone.
Johnson said the suspects were reportedly asking about drugs when they robbed the victim.
The three suspects possibly left in a white mid-sized vehicle, and the victim was taken to Lansing's Sparrow Hospital and treated for a cut on his head, Murphy said in the statement.
Three weeks earlier, a 21-year-old man was walking on Albert Avenue near Collingwood Drive when two men approached him, according to a statement from East Lansing police. One was white, 5 feet 7 inches tall and 170 pounds. The other was black, 6 feet tall and 160 pounds. Both were about 18 or 19 years old.
The two suspects approached the victim and talked with him as they continued walking. Then, they assaulted him, stealing his wallet and watch, the statement said. They later returned the wallet.
When the victim refused to give up his cell phone, the white man pulled out a knife and attempted to stab him, the statement said.
The victim ran and was injured from the assault, but not the knife, the statement reported, adding a K-9 unit searched the area but didn't find anything.
Anyone with information on either incidents is encouraged to call the East Lansing Police Department at (877) ELPDTIP or (517) 351-4220.
