DeKALB | Concern over the safety of NIU students and DeKalb citizens has increased during last week’s surge in robberies.

DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen said none of the robberies appear to be related in any way.

“I think we have one of those situations where people who are inclined to commit crime see it in the newspaper and it gives them that little extra motivation that makes them go out and do it,” Feithen said.

DeKalb Police Lt. Jim Kayes said of the investigations the police have undertaken since August, only two of the cases remain unsolved. Kayes said it is “highly doubtful” that the three suspects currently in custody at DeKalb County Jail for their alleged involvement in the theft of an MP3 player on Nov. 7 are the same three who committed a robbery Aug. 29 at Campus Cinemas, 1015 Blackhawk Rd.

Police reports indicate most of the suspects arrested in connection with the recent robberies are not from DeKalb. Kayes said there are few concrete reasons for crime to be drawn to this city.

“We do broach this subject with [suspects] once in a while,” Kayes said. “They’re out here because they have relatives here — a girlfriend here, they’re talking about going to school here. A lot of times it’s a place where they end up flopping — a place where they can sleep. It’s not like they have strong ties or are being drawn by anything.”

Kayes said the profiles of victims in these cases have shown similarities.

“All our victims are people who are out alone,” Kayes said. “All of them are out after dark.”

One difficulty police face in investigating muggings is the reliability of the victim’s description of the suspects, Kayes said.

“[Victims are] surprise-attacked and so shocked by the fact they were attacked, and it’s over quickly,” Kayes said.

DeKalb Police will take measures such as increasing patrols and putting extra officers on overtime to counteract any further robbery attempts, Feithen said.

“I think our successes in solving these cases will also send the message,” Feithen said.

Kayes said preventing further incidents is a process that must be done carefully to ensure no rights are violated.

“We’ve got to play by the rules,” Kayes said. “These guys don’t.”