Armed Robbery on SEPTA Triggers

“This is a message from Nova Alert,” the ominous recorded message rang on Tuesday night. “Shelter in place. Radnor Police have received a report of a robbery with a firearm on the R100 Commuter Train.”

At 11:15 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, the Villanova community was notified of an attempted robbery that occurred on the train that runs between South Campus and the Commons. According to Nova Alert, the suspect produced a gun from his backpack and attempted to rob the train conductor before fleeing on foot near the Commons and over the pedestrian bridge.

“At approximately 20:24 hours, Radnor Police were notified via radio,” Christopher Flanagan, Superintendent of Radnor Police, said. “Radnor police, who happened to have multiple officers at the Villanova basketball game, converged on the station and learned that a subject allegedly pulled a handgun, kicked out a window and a disturbance occurred on the train.”

According to the University, Villanova was notified by Radnor Police about the incident at 10:40 p.m., and they aided in the search.

“Officers set up a pe- rimeter assisted by Haverford, Lower Merion [and] Villanova, looking for the subject,” Flanagan said. “A search of the area was conducted and it was believed that the subject had gotten through the perimeter prior to it being established…once we released the scene at midnight, we believed that the offender had left the area and there was no danger to the community.”

Flanagan explained that Radnor Police would be adding patrols in the areas of train stations, and he urged students to reach out if they had any concerns.

“You can always come and talk to us if you have concerns in the community, so always reach out,” he said. “Radnor police are always there and we’re happy to help anybody, including students, navigate a problem before it becomes an issue. “

Although the message was released after midnight, the Villanova community did not receive any additional updates until seven hours after the original alert.

“Shelter in place lifted,” the Nova Alert read on Wednesday morning at 6:15 a.m. “Classes and other University business will take place as scheduled today. As an update, police searched the area on and around campus throughout the night but did not locate the suspect. We therefore do not believe that he is still in the area.”