CAMPUS WATCH: Below is a summary of campus activity reported to or observed by the University Police Department patrol officers between Thursday, 08-21-08 and Friday, 08-22-08. If you have any information pertaining to these incidents or any other criminal / suspicious activity, contact the UT Police Department at 512-471-4441. *****Welcome Back Message***** As students move back onto to the 40 Acres for another exciting year, The UT Police Department would like to invite everyone to visit the UTPD web-page (at http://www.utexas.edu/police/ ) to become familiar with the services offered by the police department. We would also like to encourage everyone to take a moment to learn more about various laws, rules and sanctions on campus. For instance, many people do not consider if there are sanctions involving skateboarding or roller skating on campus. Sanctions involving skating and skateboarding on campus are readily available on the Parking and Transportation Services web-page at http://www.utexas.edu/parking/rules/index.html So do yourself a favor and study a little about campus standards and rules before school starts back-up. PARKING LOT 28, 600 West 24th Street Criminal Trespass Warning: A non-UT subject was found “setting-up†a sleeping bag. The subject was issued a written criminal trespass warning. Occurred on 08/22/08 at 5:28 a.m. PARKING LOT 40, 2400 Red River Criminal Trespass Warning: A non-UT subject was found sleeping under a tree in the parking lot. The subject was issued a written criminal trespass warning. Occurred on 08/21/08 at 1:17 p.m. PARKING LOT 111, 2200 Salina Attempted Burglary of Motor Vehicle / Evading: A UT staff member reported seeing two male subjects breaking into a parked silver F-150 pick-up truck. The two subjects ran away after noticing UT staff members watching them. The investigation provided a description of the subjects as two Hispanic males in their late teens or early 20's. One of the subjects was wearing a black t-shirt and shorts, while the second subject was wearing a grey t-shirt. The subject in the grey t-shirt had a word tattooed on his right forearm. The subjects were last seen blatantly disregarding public safety by literally flying through intersections in an older model silver Buick. The scene of the crime revealed the subjects had broken the driver's window out of the F-150 pick-up truck. No items were stolen from the truck. Loss value: $0.00. Repair cost: $150.00. Occurred on 08/21/08 at 11:20 a.m. JOE C. THOMPSON CONFERENCE CENTER, 2405 Robert Dedman Theft / Credit Card Abuse: A black wallet containing various credit cards, identification cards and $4.50 in cash was stolen from an unsecured office while the owner left the office for a lunch break. Prior to the discovery of the theft, a UT staff member found the stolen wallet inside a men's restroom trashcan. The staff member who observed the wallet observed a subject who had exited the restroom while trying to conceal an item under his shirt. That staff member described the subject as a black or Hispanic male subject, clean shaven, 5'9†tall, 165 pounds and wearing a black t-shirt and black or khaki pants. The subject may have been wearing a blue and white baseball cap. Prior to the owner of the property cancelling the credit cards, several unauthorized charges were made at local stores. Loss value: $10.00. Occurred on 08/21/08 between 11:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. WILL C. HOGG, #2 East Mall Theft: A Dell laptop computer was stolen when it was left inside a 2nd floor office. During the timeframe of the theft, the contents of office were packed and moved so that the room could be painted. Loss value: $1,400.00. Occurred between 08/19/08 at 5:00 p.m. and 08/21/08 at 3:56 p.m. Crime Prevention Tip of the Day: For the parents of this year's incoming freshman class, the countdown for the fall 2008 semester has started. There are 00 days left before the first day of Moove-In. There are several things that you can start doing to get your student ready. To Do List Take a deep breath you have done all you can for now to get your student ready for UT. On behalf of the UT Police Department, Welcome to UT. What has started here will change the world. Hook' Em Horns. Together we can make a difference. The knowledge provided in these tips becomes your responsibility to enact on and to share with others – Be safe! 08/19/08 tip 0 Common questions we hear from in-coming students and parents concern sexual assault and personal safety. To that end, we would like to take this opportunity to recommend the Rape Aggression Defense System (RAD). This 16 hour course is free of charge to female faculty, staff and student members. In these 16 hours, students of the program will learn a variety of things to enhance their personal safety. To check the course dates and to sign-up for the class, visit the UTPD webpage at: http://www.utexas.edu/police/ Gentlemen, do not worry, there are options for you as well. Check the Informal Courses catalogue for classes pertaining to self-defense; there are a plethora of them. For more information about Informal Courses, visit https://informalclasses.org/index2.html 08/18/08 tip 0 As new students anxiously await their first experience away form home, many people, including parents, university administrators, housing & food employees, faculty members, staff members and campus law enforcement professionals focus on campus safety issues. The University of Texas at Austin is a community. As such, it is everyone's responsibility to help maintain a safe environment for the educational process. This week we want look at some common sense safety tips. Please go over these items with your child before you drop them off. First and foremost, you should always listen to yourself. If you find yourself doing something that has you wondering “should I be doing this?†– then no; you shouldn't do what you are doing. I am confident that before most dangerous acts or behavior, the person committing such act thought “I shouldn't be doing this.†If you are immune to your own voice and don't hear yourself, solicit good friends who will be committed to keeping an eye on you just as you will keep an eye on them. Simply put, make it a habit to do things with friends. This includes, studying, shopping, going to the movies, going to a party and most importantly spending a night on the town. Always bring a sober friend with your for the party and the night on the town. The sober friend should be dedicated to make sure you do not do something you will probably regret in the morning and will care for you if you have enjoyed a little too much. Remember there is safety in numbers. 8-14-08 tip 0 For some people alcohol is used as a criminal instrument to facilitate assaults and sexual assaults. Parents, this is an important issue to be discussed. Alcohol is the number one drug used for assaults. Even if your student does not drink, there are other drugs that can be used. Help your student develop a game plan when they decide to go out to one of the many parties this up-coming semester. 08/13/08 tip 0 The charge of Driving Under the Influence is often confused by Texans as meaning a person is driving while under the influence of a drug or narcotic. In Texas, driving under the influence refers to a person who is under the age of 21 and is operating a motor vehicle with any detectable amount of alcohol coming from the driver. Any detectable amount of alcohol can include something as simple as an odor of alcohol coming from a minor's breath. As with any offense involving a minor and alcohol, the punishments are not limited to a monetary fine or confinement in jail, it can also include the suspension of one's driver's license and don't forget the visit with the Dean of Students that comes with criminal cases involving students. 08/12/08 tip 0 Yesterday's edition of the Campus Watch showed several alcohol related crimes. Today's edition is not that different. Today we would like to focus on the criminal aspect of these alcohol violations. These simple violations will impact future plans. Many employers are now considering prospective employees' past behavior prior to offering them a job. A charge of Minor in Possession (M.I.P.) means that you, being a person under the age of 21 years, have been given a citation by a police officer or Texas Alcohol Beverage Control Officer for being illegally in possession, ownership, or control of an alcoholic beverage. The principal element of this crime, which must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, is that you were in possession, ownership, or control of an alcoholic beverage. A charge of Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor means that you consumed an alcoholic beverage and you are under the age of 21. The principal of this crime, which must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, is that you are under the age of 21 and had consumed an alcoholic beverage. These charges are never hard to prove and can affect your ability in entering into a career of you choice. 8-11-08 tip 0 Yesterday's edition of the Campus Watch showed several alcohol related crimes. Every fall semester we see an increase in alcohol related crimes. Many of these cases involve the newest members of the UT family. Parents, take a moment before your child comes to campus to have a frank open discussion about alcohol related issues. I found a good article pertaining to this topic on the internet at: (http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/bolingbrook/opinions/x518448175/Editorial-Parents-need-to-talk-to-college-bound-kids-about-alcohol). Sadly, the legal ramifications of alcohol offenses are the least of one's worries when it comes to alcoholism, binge drinking and driving while intoxicated. The risk to one's own safety and the safety of society at large are far more important. To that end, learn the subject matter and have that discussion with your kids. As a father myself, I am hoping that kids do in fact listen. Over the course of this week, we will chronicle legal issues pertaining to alcohol. 08/08/08 tip 0 Yesterday's tip involved the security at the entrances to dormitories and not allowing people to tailgate through card reader doors. Today, we turn our attention to problems inside the dormitory. Thefts from dormitory rooms frequently occur as a result of a resident leaving his or her dormitory room door unlocked or even standing open. Students must be vigilant in making sure they keep their dorm room door closed and locked – even while they are inside their dorm room. All too often, thieves will walk the halls of dormitories looking for an opportunity to make a quick buck. Remember, it only takes a few seconds to commit a theft. To further the security of your dormitory room property, make sure you have your property marked with your driver's license number and consider bringing a lockable footlocker to store your valuables. Establish expectations with your roommate regarding the security of the dormitory room. These expectations should include locking the door and never leaving invited guests in the room unattended. 08/07/08 tip 0 Dormitory Security is always a concern. Access into the dormitories is controlled by a card reader. This security is only as good as the weakest link. In many cases the weakest link is the person who allows unauthorized people into these restricted areas by holding the door open for the stranger following them into the dormitory. As you are getting your student ready for college, take a minute to remind them that while they were in high school they were not allowed to let total strangers into your house. This same rule should still apply to their dormitory; after all, their dormitory will now be their primary residence. 08/06/08 tip 0 During parent's orientation, there was a steady flow of questions that pertained to laptop computers and computer security. There are several things that can be done to ensure that your laptop computer is secure. Simply lock your dormitory room when you leave for a couple of minutes. And when you find yourself studying in a public area, don't leave your property unattended. If your computer is stolen there are a couple of things you can do, prior to the theft. Engrave your property with your driver's license number on two surfaces that are plainly visible. You can borrow an electric engraver from many law enforcement agencies, including The University of Texas at Austin Police Department. Also consider installing tracking software. Such programs have aided several stolen laptop recoveries. Do an internet check for laptop tracking software and find a program that fulfills your needs. 08/05/08 tip 0 For years UT has averaged more Auto thefts than you might realize. Cars are stolen on a monthly basis. What is one thing all car thefts have in common? Ease of committing the theft. For that reason, UTPD has several recommendations for your vehicle's protection. Number one, park your vehicle in areas of high traffic. Vehicular and foot traffic provides natural surveillance of your vehicle. Next, use a steering wheel locking device on your vehicle. This serves as a visual deterrent to auto thieves. Steering wheel locks can be seen from outside the vehicle; making a thief wonder how quickly he or she can steal your car. Have a “Kill Switch†installed in your car. These devices prevent your vehicle from being turned on or from driving for a great distance if your car is stolen. Most automobile alarm shops can install a kill switch in your car. Speaking of automobile alarm shops, I recently heard of an alarm system that takes a digital picture of the interior of your car seconds after it is illegally entered. The picture is sent to your cell phone. This lets you know when your car was broken into and provides a visual image of the offender. Finally, consider buying a GPS tracking system for your vehicle. As always, do not leave any items inside your vehicle, as auto burglaries happen way more than auto thefts. 08/04/08 tip 0 The "To Do List" is starting to get long, but that is not a problem. So far everything has been common sense and using good judgment. Many students are looking forward to bringing their cars. Auto burglary and auto theft are a concern on every campus. Many of the auto thefts start out as an auto burglary. Do not allow your student to use their vehicle as a storage facility. Keep all personal property stored out of sight, after it has been properly marked with a driver's license number. 8/1/08 tip 0 After marking all of your student's property with their driver's license number or State issued ID number, take some time and talk. Find out what their expectations of college are. With the remaining time we will be addressing some of your concerns. 7-31-08 tip 0 Mark all of your property with your State issued driver's license number. Remember, property thefts are the number 1 crime at UT. Look into a two-lock locking system when securing your bicycle on campus. This locking system will incorporate a U-shaped lock that uses a flat key. The second lock used will be a self-locking cable lock. You are now requiring the thief to use two separate tools in order to steal your property. Now take a few minutes and go online and register your bicycle with UT Parking and Transportation: www.utexas.edu/parking/transportation/biking/bicycle_register.php CAMPUS WIDE: Non-Criminal Calls: In addition to the above criminal cases, The University of Texas Police Department responded to 31 alarm calls, 3 unsecured door reports, 3 welfare concern reports and 3 public assist between 08-21-08 and 08-22-08. 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
