UPDATED: Wednesday, October 8, 2008 --- 9:00 pm
REPORTER: Chris Woodard

It's a situation that understandably has many on campus worried because sometimes even the best laid plans can't compete with a gun.

It's a well used path cutting through the UW campus and bringing hundreds of students to their destinations. It's also the latest spot they're getting mugged.

Student Mark Nygren says, "It's a little bit scary. It's unnerving."

Early Wednesday morning a UW student and staff member were walking the path when they were confronted by a man with a gun. He took money from one of the victims and fled.

Madison Police Spokesperson Joel DeSpain says, "Sometimes they're fairly easy targets. They're walking around down there seemingly unafraid because they should be."

That sense of security may be quickly fading. Suspect sketches show striking similarities in several campus armed robberies. Police believe as many as 12 could be related and students are taking notice.

Nygren says, "I don't carry my wallet around as much unless I need to. I just carry my keys and my phone so I don't have my credit card because that's a pain to go through."

A program providing trained volunteers for students to walk with is one of many aimed at keeping them safe. The school also offers free bus and cab rides.

The campus even has a recommended path to walk called the lightway. It's well lit. It's near busy roads and it's lined with emergency phones. The problem is the path can't get you everywhere.

Student Lisa Papiernik says, "I usually do try to walk in groups when it's dark or when it's later because I'm just to scared to walk at night because I know anything can really happen."

For several on this campus that frightening reality has already proved true.

These suspects are still at large and police are looking for any information that will help them catch the men they believe are responsible.

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UPDATED 11:55 a.m.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008 --- 8:35 a.m.

Two victims were walking together on the bike path near Charter when they were confronted by the suspect. The suspect displayed a handgun, took money from one of the victims and fled. The second victim did not have any money on his person.

Neither victim was injured during the incident.

The perpetrator was seen getting into the passenger side door of a dark blue Buick or Cadillac. It had tinted windows, with chrome strips along both sides, and on its rear bumper.

MPD detectives will look to see if this robbery might be connected to others that have occurred in the area.

Suspect:
The perpetrator was an African-American male, 6'0-6'02 in height and weighing 200 to 240 lbs. The suspect was last seen wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt, dark blue pants and a black baseball cap with the letters 'NY" in front in white. He's described as having "bulging eyes", dark black bushy eyebrows, and a very defined jaw line.