CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Violent crime is on the rise near UNC Charlotte's campus. In the past five days, there have been two sex assaults, a robbery and a home invasion in the area.
On Friday, police were searching for three armed suspects who broke into an apartment at University Crossings. It’s the same apartment complex where one of the two sexual assaults happened just days ago.
NBC Charlotte talked to students who live in the apartment complex that's right across the street from campus.
“The police cars followed us into our parking garage,” said UNCC student Jessica Carter. “I couldn’t really go to sleep last night because I was like, dang, what if they get me?”
Carter and classmate Chasiti Battle were walking back to their apartment together. Police say the armed home invasion happened around 12:30 a.m. on Friday.
“There was about six or seven police cars, two followed us into our parking garage, and we were like why are they here?,” said Battle.
“All the police cars had come, they had turned off their lights, and they were walking around the premises,” said Carter.
“We went to go ask the police, and they said there’s three armed people on the property,” said Battle.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Police said the armed suspects mistakenly broke into the wrong home and that the victims were not the intended targets. A sexual assault was reported at the same apartment complex just days ago. On Friday afternoon, CMPD released surveillance images of the suspect in that case.
“That was really scary for me, especially being that close to it, maybe five doors down,” said Carter.
Violent crime has also spread into the heart of campus. Police arrested three suspects after two students were robbed at gunpoint behind the student union early Thursday morning.
Students say they’re looking for safety wherever they can find it.
“I stayed in my apartment with my doors locked,” said Battle.
“I make sure I’m not alone going to class, sitting in study area,” said Carter.