At 8:45 on Wednesday night, Noble M. Hansen '00 of Mather House was mugged on the safety path that runs between Cowperthwaite and Grant Streets beside Leverett House.

According to Hansen, one man who appeared drunk or on drugs approached him as he began to cross Grant St. The man mumbled some words and asked him for the time. As Hansen backed away from the man, another man grabbed him from behind. Together, the two men held him against the fence that parallels Grant St.

The second man then said "Give me your money or we'll mess you up," recalled Hanson. He then preceded to forcefully remove Hansen's wallet from his back pocket while the first man pushed him down.

The men then fled eastward down Cowperthwaite Street toward Putnam Avenue.

According to Peggy A. McNamara, spokesperson for the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD), the suspects in the case are one six foot two inch tall black male with short dread locks donning a dark jacket. The other is a "shorter, stockier" black male.

Dmitri C. Dover '00, Hensen's roommate, said the incident was "a little scary" given that it took place on a well-lit, well-trodden path. It is the primary route that Mather House residents take toward the Yard.

Dimitrije M. Mitrinovic '00, another roommate, was similarly "shocked [by the mugging] because it took place so close to Mather and Leverett."

Both Dover and Mitrinovic suggested that more frequent nighttime shuttles to Mather should be offered as an additional security measure.

"If we had shuttles running every 15 minutes, then we might not have to walk through [these streets] in the middle of the night," Mitrinovic said.

In addition to sending out an advisory letter, the response of the HUPD will be twofold, according to McNamara.

One plainclothes detective of the night shift will be assigned to further the investigation. Also, one member of the river community police team will be diverted to patrol the area. The effectiveness of this measure will be reevaluated by the HUPD after a few days.