Three Recent Robberies, Two from Behind, Reported in Columbia

Three robberies in Columbia happened almost within 24 hours of each other from Wednesday night to Thursday night last week.

The first one was reported to police on June 19 around 9 p.m. Police said a man was walking near the 10300 block of Swift Stream Pl. in Downtown Columbia when he was pushed into bushes, punched and his pockets searched by a group of five men. At the time, the victim said he was carrying a laptop in his backpack, which was stolen. Police described the suspects as four black males, and a Hispanic male, possibly young teens who were wearing bandanas around their faces.

The second attack took place around 1:30 p.m. on June 20 in the 8800 block of Tamar Dr. In this incident, police said a man was walking when he was approached from behind by another man who asked him for money. When the man ignored the request, the suspect kicked him in the stomach, knocked the man to the ground and stole his cell phone.

The third attack, similar in nature to the first, was reported around 9:45 p.m. on June 20 near the intersection of Kilimanjaro Rd. and Merryrest Rd. in Oakland Mills. Police said a man was approached from behind by five males, possibly in their late teens or early twenties, and struck to the back of his head by what he thought was a fist. The victim reported his iPhone and wallet were stolen in the attack.

Police said they have not made any arrests in the three incidents.