The alleged attack of a woman near the University of Illinois Chicago campus early Thursday morning prompted school officials to issue a community alert.
Shortly before 3 a.m., a 21-year-old UIC student said she was walking alone in the 800 block of West 16th Street, not far from the campus, when she was approached from behind.
One of them tore her blouse and grabbed her breast. The young woman broke free after a passing vehicle slowed down, causing the trio to run away.
The main attacker was described as a black male between the ages of 17 and 23. He stood about 6 feet, 4 inches and had a thin build. He was wearing a white or grey shirt, blue jeans, black hat and shoes.
In the wake of the incident, UIC police offered the following safety tips:
- Be aware of your surroundings
- Try to travel in groups when possible, particularly after dark
- Use well-lit walkways
- On campus, look for the location of the nearest emergency call box (there are more than 1,500 across campus)
- Know the emergency number for UIC Police: 312-355-5555 or 5-5555 from on campus.
- Report crime promptly to police
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call UIC Police at 312-996-2830.
