Arrests Made In Robbery Of Full Sail Students

Deputies have arrested two men who they say are behind more than one-dozen robberies of college students. Most of the victims were Full Sail University students in East Orange County.

Officers arrested Ansel Bell on Friday and Danorris Balkcom on Tuesday. Detectives have been looking for the men for months.

Sheriff's investigators started seeing robbery cases in the area near Full Sail in November. The violent criminals used guns and targeted college students who had laptops and other expensive electronics.

There was a violent break-in at the Whisper Lakes apartments and detectives believe Ansel Bell, Danorris Balkcom, and possibly two others stormed in the apartment and held their victims at gunpoint and then stole $10,000 worth of electronics.

It's one of as many as 13 robberies investigators believe Bell and Balkcom could be involved in, and the one that led to their capture.

"People who are just walking with bags to school are getting mugged," Full Sail student Jonathan Tanner said.

The crooks were targeting students near Full Sail University. Students pay roughly $30,000 a year for school and carry laptops and other electronic equipment needed for the high-tech courses.

"Camera equipment, tripods, sound equipment, lighting equipment," Full Sail student Ulysses Adams said.

At one point, six students were hit within 24 hours. Jiani Zhu was one of them.

"Suddenly, a man came up from my right side, gave me a punch and I almost fell down," Zhu said.

The robberies became such a concern that Full Sail pitched in extra reward money and the sheriff's office released a composite sketch. As it turns out, an acquaintance of a victim also happened to know the two suspects and heard them bragging about it. That's how detectives made the connection to Bell and Balkcom.

Students at the university said they feel much safer knowing at least two of the suspects are behind bars.

"It's great they got caught. I don't have to worry about walking to class with my computer anymore," Jonathan Tanner said.

So far, the two have only been charged in one case, but the sheriff's office said it believes all of the recent robberies involving Full Sail students will be cleared with the arrests.

Investigators said that other arrests are possible in the case.

Previous Stories: February 9, 2010: Thief Targets Full Sail Students, Electronics