An armed robbery was reported Wednesday at the TDECU branch inside the University of Houston's Student Center South, the second time the on-campus credit union has landed in a police blotter since October. University officials said the suspect showed a handgun, demanded cash and then took off. No one was physically hurt.
The university alert stated the robbery was reported at about 4:08 p.m. and that the man ran south toward the METRO platform at MLK and Wheeler after leaving the branch, as reported by Click2Houston. The alert described the suspect as a Black man about six feet tall with a slender build, roughly 160–170 pounds, wearing a black scarf over his head, a black shirt and pants, gray sports sandals and carrying a black backpack with gray stripes.
Previous robbery and FBI alert
The latest holdup follows an Oct. 28 robbery at the same TDECU branch that triggered an FBI bulletin seeking the so‑called “Cougar Campus Crook,” which offered up to $5,000 for information, according to an FBI Houston release. The Houston Chronicle reported that staff were not injured in that earlier incident and that the branch briefly closed before reopening the next day.
Police response and tips
University officials are urging anyone with information about Wednesday’s robbery to contact the University of Houston Police Department, Click2Houston notes. For non-emergencies, the University of Houston Police Department lists (713) 743-3333 and [email protected] as contacts; in an emergency, callers are directed to dial 911.
Campus safety context
Student newspaper The Cougar reported that university leaders pointed to stepped-up patrols and thousands of security cameras across campus after the October robbery, moves they said were intended to reassure students and employees. The repeat hit at a campus financial center has renewed calls from students for more visible security and more frequent patrols.
Anyone with tips about either robbery can contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477) or the FBI Houston Field Office at (713) 693-5000, according to the FBI Houston release. UHPD is leading the local investigation and has asked potential witnesses to share any video or other information directly with investigators.
