Additional patrols near Ora Manor by the South Orange police and Seton Hall's Public Safety staff are stationed due to recent robberies in the area, according to Patrick Linfante, assistant vice president of the Department of Public Safety.
"SHU Public Safety has increased our inspections of Ora Manor and has repositioned some of our closed-circuit cameras to face Valley Street," Linfante said.
According to a Pirate Alert issued on Nov. 3, two Seton Hall students were robbed by black males exiting a minivan. An earlier Pirate Alert sent on Oct. 17 stated that another student was robbed by black males in a van.
"It is possible that the same group committed both crimes; however, there is no evidence to support that theory," Linfante said.
The most recent robbery involving a student victim was a woman walking on Cottage Street, according to a Pirate Alert sent on Nov. 19.
Senior public relations major Aedan Doyle, a resident of Ora, said he has noticed the Public Safety and SOPD cars in the apartment parking lot in recent weeks, which makes him feel safer.
"If someone tries to rob someone by Ora and they see a police car or a security car, they'll think otherwise," Doyle said.
Linfante said that he advises students to pay attention to their surroundings and to use all sources of transportation wherever they go.
"Use alternate means of transportation (taxi cab, bus or a car service) when traveling in areas not covered by University transportation," Linfante advised.
Tiffany Do can be reached at tiffany.do@student.shu.edu.
