Two men approached a former University student early Saturday morning in front of 626 14th Ave. S.E. and struck him on the side of the head before knocking him down and mugging him.

According to the police report:

The men approached the victim, struck him once while he stood and once in the back after he hit the ground.

The suspects demanded his wallet and ran to a vehicle parked nearby.

The victim said the vehicle was a dark-colored sport utility vehicle with a spare tire mounted to the tailgate.

He waited for Minneapolis police to respond and was transported to Fairview-University Medical Center.

The victim lost his wallet, which held IDs, credit cards and business cards. Minneapolis police are investigating the incident.

In other police news:

In the past week, University police have recorded 15 reports of theft, burglary or mysterious disappearance.

“Theft is our most common crime on campus,” University Police Capt. Steve Johnson said.

A student, using the lower-level men’s restroom in Anderson Hall’s north end Thursday, lost his checkbook, according to the police report.

The man told police the

checkbook fell out of his pants while they were around his ankles, according to the report.

He noticed his checkbook missing five minutes later and returned to the scene, but it was not there.

Police said the investigation is inactive, as are all but three of the thefts reported.

University police are actively investigating the theft of two computers, each valued at $1,500, from the Centennial Hall computer lab.

University sophomore Chris Prouty, who has been the computer center coordinator for over a year, said it is the second time this year lab computers have been stolen.

The previous theft occurred Jan. 20 when a $2,500 Macintosh G4 computer and a 17-inch flat-screen monitor worth $1,000 were taken from the lab.

In both cases, the police reports noted that cables securing the units to the desks were pried off or cut.

Computer lab users need to check out a key from the residence hall front desk, but often people will just knock on the door and someone will let them in, Prouty said.

He said someone could have just waited for the room to empty before taking the computer.

Prouty said he is not sure if the University has plans to increase computer lab security.

“They talked about cameras and stuff, but I don’t think we’re really budgeted for it,” Prouty said.

University police are investigating the latest theft, while the January theft is inactive, pending new information.

University police issued 17 underage drinking tickets Friday night and Saturday night, including three to 17-year-olds.

“This is part of our officers’ jobs. When they’re on patrol they are aware of underage drinking,” Johnson said.

He said in most cases officers give citations to people who draw attention to themselves.

Officers originally approached four individuals ticketed Saturday for obstructing traffic, according to the report.

Johnson said as the weather warms up, he expects to see the number of underage drinking tickets rise.

Rocky Thompson covers police and crime and welcomes comments at [email protected]