Notre Dame students react to off-campus robbery on Sunday

SOUTH BEND, Ind. —- A man was robbed two blocks away from the University of Notre Dame on Sunday. 

According to a campus safety alert, it was reported two men robbed the victim of a cellphone near the 500 block of Saint Vincent Street. The victim was reportedly struck several times by the suspects and sustained minor injuries. 

An official with the South Bend Police Department said the victim made the report at the department on Sample Street. The victim told police he was turning onto Saint Vincent St. from Howard St. when the two men approached him.

“It doesn’t surprise me,” said Megan Kostolansky, a Notre Dane student. 

She lives off campus and said off campus safety issues do not surprise her. A campus safety alert went out recently about a off campus shooting, according to Kostolansky. 

“We’ve had issues in this neighborhood specifically, all year,” she said. 

The University of Notre Dame declined to comment on the robbery. It has not been confirmed if the victim was a student. 

Ben Whewell, a student at the university, said after the robbery he still feels safe. 

“I don’t know,” he said. “It’s very well policed.”

Kostolansky said it is a risk living off campus. She said she and her roommates have dealt with car break-ins. 

But when it comes to staying safe she sticks to the basics. 

“We’re usually always together in groups,” she said “And we have an alarm that we set we’re good about locking the doors and the windows.”

According to the campus safety alert, one suspect of Sunday’s robbery was described as a black man approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall.  The second suspect was described as a white or Hispanic man approximately 5 feet and 8 inches who wore a light-colored hoodie.

According to the alert, both suspects looked to be between 18 and 20 years old. If you have any information, call SBPD at 574-235-9263.