RICHMOND, Va. -- VCU police are urging students to look out for each other after three alleged sexual assaults near campus in the past week.
“That’s pretty unfortunate actually because it’s like people are preying on students,” Torey Hammond, a VCU graduate student, said.
Hammond actually lives near where the most recent alleged sexual assault took place on Thursday, in a residence across from the Midtown Kroger.
The other two assaults also reportedly took place in residences near campus.
One on South Morris Street on Wednesday and the other in the 900 block of West Grace Street on Sunday.
“I think people need to be alert because this kind of stuff happens especially at the beginning of the school year especially with new incoming transferring people and like freshman that are around,” Rebekah Forrer, a VCU junior, said.
Fall classes started at VCU on Thursday, and according to alerts sent out by VCU Police about the alleged sexual assaults, the survivors recently met the suspects in all three cases.
Forrer and Hammond said the reported sexual assaults should serve as a reminder to other students to always remain vigilant.
“You can’t judge a book by its cover, like if you see someone looking really nice and all dressed up he could be the worst kid at the party or the worst kid on the block,” Forrer said.
“If you’re going with a group, you leave with the group,” Hammond said.
VCU Police said if you see a situation that you do not feel comfortable intervening in, you should call VCU Police immediately.
Bystander intervention is a known tool to prevent campus sexual assault.
