Man Arrested for Multiple Off-Campus Robberies Near Campus

Durham Police arrested 25-year-old Jaquan Marquise Smith on Friday for a string of home invasions and robberies in apartments near Duke University’s campus.

Two of the incidents involved Duke students and occurred on February 6 and March 2 of this year. In each incident, the victims were forced into their apartment and held at gunpoint while individuals robbed them of phones, electronics, money, and other valuables. None of the victims were injured during the crimes.

Smith was charged with nine counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, nine counts of kidnapping, one count of accessing computers, three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, two counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and four counts of obtaining property by false pretense. Further charges are pending.

Smith was jailed and placed under a $1,000,000 bond.

“We are so grateful for the relentless and persistent work of the Durham Police Department to identify and arrest the suspect in these serious crimes,” said Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for Administration. “We could not be more pleased with the collaboration between Durham Police and Duke Police in this case.”

Earlier this year, Duke leaders also worked directly with the owners of off-campus properties to confirm additional security measures taken to protect community residents, including: updating and adding security cameras, installing security mirrors in the breezeways, and installing additional fencing around properties.

The other suspects involved in these crimes have not yet been identified at this time.

Anyone with information on the identity of the other suspects or any of these home invasions is asked to call Investigator Robinson at (919) 560-4440, ext. 29415 or CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers never have to identify themselves.ocs