Reported Iowa City robbery is city's third in less than a week

The third robbery in less than a week was reported on the west side of Iowa City early Wednesday morning.

The Iowa City Police Department received a report of a strong arm robbery at 4:53 a.m. Wednesday. The victim reported that, around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, he was in the area of 2400 Bittersweet Court when two men wearing dark hooded sweatshirts hit him in the face and took money from his pocket.

It's not clear why the man waited two hours to report the robbery.

“Obviously, two hours later (the suspects are), more than likely, not still around,” said Sgt. Vicki Lalla. “In that regard, something being reported immediately would be better.”

The man did not require medical treatment, police said.

The suspects are described as black men. No other suspect information is available.

Bittersweet Court is less than half a mile from where two cab drivers were robbed this past weekend.

Around 11 p.m. Friday night, a Five Stars Cab driver told police he had been robbed at gunpoint by two black men in the parking lot at 2437 Petsel Place. On Sunday night, a Yellow Cab driver dispatched to nearby Samoa Drive reported he was approached by a man who pulled a gun on him and demanded cash.

That suspect was described as a black man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt.

Police said investigators are exploring the possibility the weekend robberies are related.

“Certainly, that would be something we would be looking into,” Lalla said.

Iowa City Area Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of these suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 358-8477.

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