Area where Duke students robbed at gunpoint has had 15 robberies in past year

After the robbery on Saturday night, the suspects got away with credit cards, four iPhones and two Apple laptops – and then drove off in their car.

All of that valued at more than $26,000.

Suspects reportedly made the students at the Belmont Apartments wipe their phones of account passwords and tracking devices before stealing them.

WRAL News searched crime reports within half a mile of the Belmont Apartments and found 15 other robberies in the past year. This is the second robbery inside the Belmont Apartments in the past 8 months.

One of those happened in June on the same street as Saturday night's robbery.

"This has happened before so I’m not too surprised," said a Duke University student who did not want to be identified.

She lives in the same building on McQueen Drive where the masked robbers struck.

WRAL News obtained a report on the previous robbery, which showed that a 28-year-old woman was robbed at gunpoint for more than $2,000, using Venmo and CashApp.

The student we talked to remembers finding out about that robbery after she moved in.

"The person confronted a resident at their car, forced them into their apartment and stole from them also tried to open their bank account on their phone and steal money that way," she said. "This street typically gets quite a bit of crime," she said. "Other than try to move elsewhere, that’s all I can do."

Another resident shared an email sent from the property management following this latest crime.

It says they've put up taller fencing around the complex, installed better lighting, and trimmed shrubs to improve visibility around the buildings.

They're also adding a second security guard at night and offering security escorts home.

The property management also says in that email it's offering a $5,000 reward.

Durham Police tell me they are looking for 4 robbers total.