This is Hull and East Riding -- UNIVERSITY students and staff have been warned about their safety after separate attacks on four people by a gang of men. Detectives are hunting the gang who assaulted four lone men in streets near the University of Hull campus, robbing one, on Tuesday. In one case, the gang of three men was interrupted by an elderly woman who intervened while they were punching one victim in the face and rifling through his pockets. Police and university security staff have now increased patrols in the area. Detective Inspector Nick Ram, from Hull's priority crime team, said: "Police are continuing to investigate the crimes and at this stage, we are treating the suspects from all four incidents as the same group of three men. "To reassure the public we are carrying out extra patrols in the local areas around Cottingham Road and Newland Avenue. "Despite these patrols people are being encouraged to remain vigilant to suspicious activity and be aware of their personal safety in the area. "In order to identify these men we need the public's help and we are appealing for anyone who has any information, no matter how small, to come forward." In each case, the victims were grabbed from behind and beaten. Jeannette Strachan, University of Hull registrar and secretary, said: "The university takes the safety of its students and staff very seriously, and following these incidents will be asking them to be extra vigilant. "We work closely with Hull University Union and Humberside Police to provide good advice to our students and staff on keeping themselves and their property safe, and we will further step up our efforts in the light of these recent incidents. "Our security staff are increasing their patrols not only on campus but in the surrounding streets, we are contacting all staff and students to reiterate key safety messages, and our colleagues at Humberside Police are also increasing their presence in the area. "We will continue to help the police in any way we can, not only regarding these recent incidents but also in the future." The first attack happened in Falmouth Street, off Cottingham Road, at around 5.40pm. A 29-year-old-man was grabbed from behind and beaten by three men, suffering injuries to his eye and cheekbone. Just ten minutes later, a 22-year-old man was grabbed from behind and put in a headlock as he walked along The Newlands, off Cottingham Road. He was punched several times before he freed himself and ran away from the three men. At 6.10pm, a 20-year-old man was put in a headlock by a man who grabbed him from behind in Walgrave Street, off Newland Avenue. A second man punched him several times in the face while searching his pockets, before they were disturbed by an elderly woman and ran away. Twenty minutes later, a 22-year-old man was followed by three men to the university entrance in Inglemire Lane. They pushed him to the floor and one held him down while the other two searched him, stealing his laptop, mobile phone and iPod. Following the attacks, all staff and students at the university were given a warning to stay safe. An email sent to them on Thursday said: "Students and staff are warned to be extra vigilant when walking around campus and nearby streets after dark, especially if carrying valuable items such as laptops or mobile phones." The stolen items were an Acer laptop with laptop bag, a black Apple iPhone 5 mobile phone in a black case and a black 160GB iPod classic. The offenders are described as being white men, aged between 18 and 30 and of stocky build. One victim said they had local accents. Anyone with information is asked to call Humberside Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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This is Hull and East Riding -- UNIVERSITY students and staff have been warned about their safety after separate attacks on four people by a gang of men. Detectives are hunting the gang who assaulted four lone men in streets near the University of Hull campus, robbing one, on Tuesday. In one case, the gang of three men was interrupted by an elderly woman who intervened while they were punching one victim in the face and rifling through his pockets. Police and university security staff have now increased patrols in the area. Detective Inspector Nick Ram, from Hull's priority crime team, said: "Police are continuing to investigate the crimes and at this stage, we are treating the suspects from all four incidents as the same group of three men. "To reassure the public we are carrying out extra patrols in the local areas around Cottingham Road and Newland Avenue. "Despite these patrols people are being encouraged to remain vigilant to suspicious activity and be aware of their personal safety in the area. "In order to identify these men we need the public's help and we are appealing for anyone who has any information, no matter how small, to come forward." In each case, the victims were grabbed from behind and beaten. Jeannette Strachan, University of Hull registrar and secretary, said: "The university takes the safety of its students and staff very seriously, and following these incidents will be asking them to be extra vigilant. "We work closely with Hull University Union and Humberside Police to provide good advice to our students and staff on keeping themselves and their property safe, and we will further step up our efforts in the light of these recent incidents. "Our security staff are increasing their patrols not only on campus but in the surrounding streets, we are contacting all staff and students to reiterate key safety messages, and our colleagues at Humberside Police are also increasing their presence in the area. "We will continue to help the police in any way we can, not only regarding these recent incidents but also in the future." The first attack happened in Falmouth Street, off Cottingham Road, at around 5.40pm. A 29-year-old-man was grabbed from behind and beaten by three men, suffering injuries to his eye and cheekbone. Just ten minutes later, a 22-year-old man was grabbed from behind and put in a headlock as he walked along The Newlands, off Cottingham Road. He was punched several times before he freed himself and ran away from the three men. At 6.10pm, a 20-year-old man was put in a headlock by a man who grabbed him from behind in Walgrave Street, off Newland Avenue. A second man punched him several times in the face while searching his pockets, before they were disturbed by an elderly woman and ran away. Twenty minutes later, a 22-year-old man was followed by three men to the university entrance in Inglemire Lane. They pushed him to the floor and one held him down while the other two searched him, stealing his laptop, mobile phone and iPod. Following the attacks, all staff and students at the university were given a warning to stay safe. An email sent to them on Thursday said: "Students and staff are warned to be extra vigilant when walking around campus and nearby streets after dark, especially if carrying valuable items such as laptops or mobile phones." The stolen items were an Acer laptop with laptop bag, a black Apple iPhone 5 mobile phone in a black case and a black 160GB iPod classic. The offenders are described as being white men, aged between 18 and 30 and of stocky build. One victim said they had local accents. Anyone with information is asked to call Humberside Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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