RICHMOND, Va. -- A high school student was robbed of his Air Jordan Series 10 shoes after he got off his school bus Wednesday afternoon, according to Richmond Police.
The robbers exited a white van that was positioned behind the school bus along the 1400 block of Maury Street.
The robbers, described by police as young adults, threatened to beat-up the student if he did not take off his shoes and hand them over. The student complied and the robbers got away.
Later that same afternoon, another student was robbed at another school bus stop.
Police said a group of teenagers robbed a student of his cell phone and a bag after that student got off the bus along the 2400 block of Warwick Avenue.
Police continue to investigate both crime, and at this time, do not believe they are related.
The mother of the student robbed of his shoes said she concerned with the hub school bus system Richmond Schools put into place this year.
The hub system was put into place as a money-saving move.
Under the system, students in city neighborhoods meet up at a centralized hub, sometimes more than a mile from home, then get on a bus to go to school.
She said she believed the distance her son must walk puts him at an unnecessary risk.
"While these unfortunate incidents are not unique to bus stops in the city of Richmond, they are evidence of a larger issue that the community is facing," a Richmond Schools spokesperson said. "The hub stop system was implemented to provide our students with equitable opportunities to participate in programs offered in the school district despite our limited funding resources, which greatly impact our transportation operations. Our goal is to safely transport our students to and from school each day. We encourage our students, parents, and bus drivers to be vigilant in being aware of their surroundings while at the hub stops and to always report suspicious activity when it is observed. We will continue to partner with the Richmond Police Department, who is also contending with limited manpower due to the current climate of the city, to provide increased police presence where necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of our students."
