CAMPUS WATCH: Below is a summary of campus activity reported to or observed by the University Police Department patrol officers between Thursday, 07/17/08 and Friday 07/18/08. If you have any information pertaining to these incidents or any other criminal / suspicious activity, contact the UT Police Department at 512-471-4441. **********ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE*********** Officer Halstead and I will be out of the office next week. We will be in a training conference, which hopefully will result in us providing better service to the campus. The Campus Watch will resume a week from Monday. If you are interested in learning what crimes occurred on the campus, please feel free to visit out police department where you can view the daily police blotter (it isn't as entertaining as the Campus Watch, but it gets the point across). We are located at 2201 Robert Dedman (between the football stadium and IH-35). GREGORY GYMNASIUM, 2101 Speedway Theft: An Apple i-phone was stolen from the 2nd floor basketball court bleachers as the owner played in a basketball game. Loss value: $300.00. Occurred on 07/17/08 between 10:45 p.m. and 11:46 p.m. Crime Prevention Tip: All too often, people believe their property will be protected if they remain in the same room as their unsecured property. I can't even count the amount of reports I have written in which the victim of theft was in the same room as their property when it was stolen. All it takes is a second of inattention and a thief will take ownership of your property. I can't imagine you could watch your property and play basketball at the same time – as it turns out, you can't. If you don't need it at the gym, then don't take it – or at least lock it up. PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 510 East 23rd Street Criminal Trespass (2 counts): A UT student and a non-UT subject were reported as jumping a fence to the Performing Arts Center construction site. The 10' high fence has several posted signs advising unauthorized entry was forbidden and any entry required the wearing of a hardhat. Several officers assisted in locating the two subjects who were stopped while fleeing from the construction site. Occurred on 07/17/08 at 8:10 p.m. 500 East Clyde Littlefield Public Intoxication: A non-UT subject was observed staggering heavily while yelling words that are best not repeated. The subject had a difficult time maintaining her balance and nearly fell several times. The subject was in possession of an MP3 player that she believed was a telephone. The subject stated the MP3 player, or what she called a cell phone, did not belong to her. The subject also had two key rings, one of which she stated did not belong to her. The subject was found to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage to the point she was a physical endangerment to herself and others. Occurred on 07/18/08 at 4:24 a.m. 100 West 6th Street Driving While Intoxicated / Open Container in a Vehicle: A non-UT subject was stopped for driving a white Ford truck the wrong way on a one-way roadway. The subject stated he was from Dallas and was trying to find a hotel in San Marcos, Texas. The subject believed he was in San Marcos, as he stated several times he had not stopped between Dallas and San Marcos. The subject was found to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage to the point he was driving while intoxicated. An open 16 ounce can of beer was found inside the subject's truck. Occurred on 07/17/08 at 2:25 a.m. Crime Prevention Tip: I spent my college days in San Marcos, Texas. I love that town, but it is not even close to the scale of Austin, Texas. I can only imagine how drunk you would need to be to mistake Austin for San Marcos. If you are intoxicated to the point you don't even know what town you are in, then trust me you have no business driving. The only thing worse than driving drunk is driving drunk and lost. 2600 Whitis Driving Under the Influence by a Minor: A UT student, who was under the age of 21, was stopped while driving her Honda sport utility vehicle at night without its headlamps turned on. The student was found to have consumed alcoholic beverages, but not to the point she was driving while intoxicated. Occurred on 07/18/08 at 3:42 a.m. Lesson on the Law: In the Great state of Texas, if you are under 21 years of age and have been drinking alcoholic beverages then it is against the law to operate a motor vehicle – even if you do not meet the legal standards for driving while intoxicated. All an officer needs to establish is that you have been drinking alcohol and that fact can be detected (say an odor coming from your breath). If you are intoxicated to the point the officer believes you are driving while intoxicated, you will be arrested and your car will be towed. If you are under 21 years of age and have been drinking, but the officer does not believe you are intoxicated to the point you are driving while intoxicated, you will still be issued a citation for Driving Under the Influence by a Minor and your car will be towed. Here's a novel idea; just don't drink and drive; regardless of your age. CAMPUS WIDE: Non-Criminal Calls: In addition to the above criminal cases, The University of Texas Police Department responded to 23 alarm calls, 3 unsecured door reports, 3 welfare concern reports, 2 suspicious people reports, 2 public assist requests, 1 suspicious noise report and 1 suspicious activity report between 07/17/08 and 07/18/08. If you are a faculty or staff member that has been affected by a crime, the UT Employee Assistance Program (471-3366) is available for counseling and referrals to other appropriate services. http://www.utexas.edu/hr/eap/ To view a map of the campus visit: http://www.utexas.edu/parking/maps/index.html RAD Program For Women, Now Available (Classes are FREE) Advanced RAD Classes Being Held for RAD Class Graduates The RAD program is a 16-hour course of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for women that covers assault prevention and risk reduction while progressing on to basic hands-on defense training. http://www.utexas.edu/police/rad/ Defensive Driving: Learn Defensive Driving from a UTPD Police Officer. UTPD generally schedules a Defensive Driving Class approximately once a month – based on need. The classes meet in the University Police Building, Room 1.318, located at 2201 Robert Dedman Dr (east of Memorial Stadium). The cost for the course is $25.00 (check or cash) payable on class date. If paying in cash, please bring the exact amount because change may not be available. You will also need to bring your driver's license. For more information, to check for the next available class time or to register on-line go to: http://www.utexas.edu/police/services/defensive_driving.php Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL) The Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL) is a partnership among the Office of the Dean of Students, Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and the University of Texas Police Department (UTPD). BCAL provides a central resource for UT faculty, students, and staff who may have concerns about the behavior or well-being of another member of the campus community. By calling BCAL at 512-232-5050, callers may talk with trained staff members who will assist the caller in exploring available options and strategies as well as referrals to appropriate campus support networks. For more information on BCAL, visit the BCAL Web site at www.utexas.edu/safety/bcal or call 512-232-5050. Contact UT Police at 471-4441 if you have any information regarding any of the above incidents or call 911 regarding suspicious persons, suspicious activities or crime. Your call may help solve or prevent a crime. Campus Watch comments should be directed to Officer Darrell Halstead at 512-232-9634 or Darrell.halstead@austin.utexas.edu . Prepared by WRP To subscribe or unsubscribe, visit http://www.utexas.edu/police/campuswatch/subscribe.php
