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Gables PD Seek Suspect In Strong Armed Robbery Of UM Student

CORAL GABLES (CBSMiami) – Coral Gables Police are looking for a man wanted for the strong armed robbery of a University of Miami student.

According to police, a female student was on the 1500 block of Albenga Avenue when a man approached her and forcibly grabbed her purse and iPhone.

It happened on Tuesday January 28th, around 5:30 p.m.

After he grabbed the goods, he ran west across 57th Avenue and was spotted jumping into a blue, 4-door BMW. Police said the vehicle was in good condition, did not have tinted windows and may have been a 2007 330i series.

University of Miami student Amanda Luiso saw the scene just after the robbery.

"It just had happened because the girl was still crying still upset they were still interviewing her," Luiso said.

Other students learned what happened from a campus email. Katherine Guest said her roommate immediately recognized the man in the surveillance photos.  "She walked by and noticed this guy staring at her," Guest said, adding, "The next day it freaked her out when she got the email because it could've been her."

Police say they've stepped up patrols in the area of the university. "We've also had two other robberies that have occurred over at UM train station so we have pooled all our resources and we're addressing the issue in this section of our city," explained Officer Kelly Denham with Coral Gables Police. Denham said the three robberies do not appear to be related.

Police describe the suspect in this case as being in his early 20's, with dread locks to the shoulders, some facial hair and last seen wearing a white tank top and light jeans.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the Coral Gables Police Department at 305-442-1600 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.

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