Police are investigating after a Florida Atlantic University student was robbed and beaten after he was taken from the campus by armed men, officials said.
The incident happened Wednesday night as the student was getting into his car in the parking lot next to FAU's recreation and fitness center in Boca Raton, FAU spokeswoman Lisa Metcalf said Thursday.
According to Metcalf, five men approached the victim, got in his car and made him to drive to a nearby bank on Glades Road, where he was forced to withdraw money.
The suspects made the victim drive to Coconut Creek, where he was beaten and left with his car. He drove home before he was admitted to a nearby hospital and treated and released, Metcalf said.
Students were alerted about the incident in a campus alert sent Wednesday night. Police are investigating the incident, Metcalf said.
"The health, safety and welfare of everyone at FAU are of the utmost importance. FAU is committed to providing a safe learning environment for the entire University community," Metcalf said in a statement. "FAU has multiple security systems in place and has invested heavily in protecting the safety of its campuses. As a result of this incident, FAU is also increasing its police presence."
Metcalf said the university has reached out to the student to offer assistance.
Police said this is not the first troubling incident on campus. Saturday night, a female student was robbed at knifepoint by the Arts & Letters building.
Now, students are worried for their safety on campus.
Local
"I would usually come and meet with friends to study at night," student Rebecca DiGregorio said. "I will not be doing that again unless I call my father to walk me to the car or something."
Some are even passing around a petition asking for more security. But officials said the campus already has several measures in place to keep students safe.
"We have throughout campus our safety brochure that provides all the training tips and safety tips that we put out throughout the year and also remember the yellow phones that are on campus," deputy FAU Police Chief Sean Brammer said. "Once you hit that button it connects you with our dispatch center."
Anyone with information is asked to call the FAU Police Department at 561-297-3500
More NBC6.com Stories:
