2 arrested in robbery at University of Houston apartment

HOUSTON – Two people have been arrested in connection with an armed robbery at the University of Houston.

University police said James Manns, 18, and has been charged with two counts of aggravated robbery.

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Investigators said Manns and three other people broke into a unit at the Cambridge Oaks Student Villages, Cullen near Wheeler, on April 13 and searched for drugs.

Police Chief Ceaser Moore said UH student and apartment resident Samy Gharbaoui, 19, sold drugs to Manns at the apartment earlier that day. Gharbaoui was not in the apartment at the time of the robbery, but his two roommates' wallets were taken during the incident, detectives said.

Gharbaoui has been arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. Investigators said a safe containing drugs was found in Gharbaoui's apartment.

"We don't tolerate this type of activity at the University of Houston. With this arrest, we have taken these drugs off our campus, which we hope will help provide assurances that our students are safe in their residences," Moore said. "This was not a random act, however. We are asking the campus community to report any and all suspicious activity."

Investigators have not released any information about the other two people involved in the robbery.