Filed at 09:23 AM

       Four male students reported a man robbed them at gunpoint last night in Garden Apartment 27 — the first crime of its kind to occur on campus in recent memory, Public Safety officials said.

      Around 11:15 p.m., the suspect entered the residence and displayed a handgun to the students who were awake at the time. Four of the five residents were present, and Public Safety was notified about one hour after the robbery.

       Investigator Tom Dunn said students described the suspect as a dark-complexion black male with dreadlocks, 20 to 30 years old, standing more than 6 feet tall and weighing more than 200 pounds. He was last seen wearing black jeans, a black hoodie and a purple bandana.

      Dunn said the man stole cash and laptops from the apartment. Forced entry was not used to enter the apartment.

      The community received an alert about the robbery around 2:45 a.m. today through the Ithaca College Emergency Notification system. Officials are urging students to lock their doors and report any suspicious activity.

      Dunn said officials refer to the nature of a case like this as a “home invasion” because the robber entered a dwelling.

      “It is more threatening than a burglary,” he said. “This is truly a frightening crime.”

       Public Safety will continue interviewing the victims and has notified local law enforcement agencies, including Ithaca Police Department and Cornell University Police. Dunn said officials typically look for patterns in local activity as well as on-campus procedures.

      “We’re hoping that [the college community] can help us identify this person for us,” he said.  

      Dunn said there was an armed robbery a few years ago in a campus parking lot, but in recent memory, nothing like this has occurred.

      “We think people should take the normal prudent cautions they would always take,” he said. “ Ithaca College is a safe place and that, in my opinion, hasn’t changed,” he said.