Police have arrested two people, and are looking for two more, after a strong-arm robbery on campus late Tuesday night.
According to the University of California Police Department, a male and female were walking near the Haas School of Business, on Gayley Road, when three people approached them and “forcefully grabbed and removed” a backpack worn by the female.
“The female screamed,” said police in a written statement. “The suspect then attempted to remove the male’s backpack, but was unsuccessful.”
Both of the victims are Cal summer school students, said police.
A UCPD security officer at Haas responded to the screams, saw three males running and quickly spoke with the victims about the robbery.
The robbers fled in an awaiting green 1994 Ford Explorer, and the security officer radioed in information about the robbery and suspect vehicle to University of California police, who alerted city of Berkeley police.
A short time later, a Berkeley Police officer spotted a vehicle matching the description of the one involved in the robbery on University Avenue near Interstate 80. The vehicle failed to yield to the officer, which led to a pursuit into North Oakland.
Police said the driver stopped in Oakland, where two of four suspects connected with the robbery were arrested. Police recovered the victim’s backpack, as well as property belonging to other victims.
Neighbors in North Oakland, near 46th and Adeline streets where the chase ended, said the suspects involved in the chase crashed into a parked vehicle during the pursuit.
Police identified the two people arrested as Jason Jeong, 18, who was driving the vehicle, and a 17-year-old boy whose name was not released because he is a minor. Both are Oakland residents. According to the Alameda County sheriff’s department, Jeong is being held with a bail of $780,000 on suspicion of robbery, conspiracy and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is scheduled for arraignment Friday at 2 p.m. at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse in downtown Oakland.
Police are looking for two other people involved with the robbery: a black male, around 19 years old, wearing dark clothing, and another black male wearing dark clothing (no age listed).
Police towed the Ford Explorer as evidence.
Officers from the California Highway Patrol and Oakland Police Department also assisted during the traffic stop.
Police ask anyone with information about the crime to call the University of California Police Department’s criminal investigations bureau at 510-642-0472 during business hours, or the department’s non-emergency line at 510-642-6760.
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