Campus Watch: Below is a summary of campus activity reported to or observed by the University Police Department patrol officers between Thursday, 10/30/08 and Friday, 10/31/08 (Boo!). If you have any information pertaining to any of these cases or other criminal or suspicious activity, please contact the UT Police Department at 512-471-4441. Halloween Safety & Crime Prevention Tips I am confident many of you know the old Halloween safety and crime prevention tips – wear reflective costumes, carry a flashlight, only use facsimile weapons that look fake, don't eat your treats until you get home and inspect the delectables , trick-or-treat in neighborhoods where you know the residents (this is great for community building as well), use face make-up instead of masks as make-up is more comfortable and does not interfere with your vision, have a set trick-or-treating time for the kids so they know when to be home – for that matter, get out of the house and go with them - make sure your tricks do not violate any laws etc. All of these are great tips, but keep some other things in mind as you gear you and your family up for a night of freight. As a property owner, make sure your lawn, driveway and sidewalk are clear of debris and lawn overgrowth. Keep your porch light on as long as you are dispensing the trick repellant treats. Before your masked guests arrive this evening, take a few minutes to move items like your bicycle into your garage, house or backyard – this stops advertising to the more devious tricksters who may want to return later for the purpose of stuffing your property into their bag of treats. For more great tips, tricks and prevention treat, spend a little time doing an on-line search for Halloween safety tips and Halloween crime prevention tips. The college aged ghosts and goblins may seek out a different type of spirit – just that spirits. Holidays are always a dangerous time for alcohol consumption. Halloween is perhaps one of the most dangerous days for college students as it is a day when students want to leave the drudgery of their college life behind to seek out the anonymity found behind a mask. A day when they want to be someone else to try new things and to have fun. Such atmospheres lend themselves to overindulgence and as I have experienced the last 15 years, overindulgence with alcohol frequently does not end well. With this in mind, students – I implore you to know your limits, make a plan today to keep from overdoing it tonight. Know and keep your limits – one easy way to do this is to only bring the amount of money for the amount of drinks you know you can handle. Bring a sober friend with you – they are out there and I assure you they too will have fun being sober tonight. Don't drive to start with. If you don't drive to your trick-or-treating haunt then you can't drive away. Take a cab or the e-bus. Take a second to read the last line of the first paragraph - make sure your tricks do not violate any laws; and above all – Be safe! COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, 2110 Speedway Theft: A blue Giant bicycle was stolen while it was secured with a cable lock to a handrail located on the north side of the building. Loss value: $350.00. Occurred on 10/30/08 between 6:45 p.m. and 8:40 p.m. GATEWAY APARTMENTS, 1600 West 6th Street Criminal Trespass Warning: A non-UT subject was reported as soliciting magazine subscriptions at the apartment complex. The subject was located and summarily issued a written criminal trespass warning as soliciting on campus is prohibited. Occurred on 10/30/08 at 9:00 p.m. LAVACA BUILDING, 220 West 7th Street Public Intoxication / Resisting Arrest / Failure to Identify: A non-UT subject was observed by a guard officer committing a bodily function on the north side of the O'Henry Hall Building. The subject was then seen having a difficult time walking in a straight, wobble free manner. The subject was rather belligerent and asked the responding officer for her identification and demanded she remove her badge form her uniform and show it to him. The subject was found to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage to the point he was a danger to himself. The subject then began to resist by pulling and swinging his arms and elbows away form the officer. The subject was assisted to the ground where he continued to resist. At one point, the subject grabbed a pair of wrist restraints from the officer and pulled them under his body. After being taken into custody, the subject continued to refuse to identify himself. That led to a third charge – three strikes and you're out. Occurred on 10/31/08 at 2:20 a.m. PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 510 East 23rd Street Graffiti: A stencil and pink paint was used to write words on the east wall of the building and on a sign located on the north side of the building. Removal cost: $200.00. Discovered on 10/30/08 at 8:00 a.m. TRINITY PARKING GARAGE, 1715 Trinity Possession of Drug Paraphernalia: A Toyota Camry 4-door was found idling on the top level of the garage. The vehicle was occupied by 6 UT students. When advised the car was over-loaded, two of the students quickly advised they would walk and left the area on foot. As the vehicle backed out of the parking space, the officer noticed a glass pipe containing a green leafy substance on the ground next to he parking space. The vehicle was stopped and one of the four remaining students was found to be in possession of a plastic bag containing marijuana residue. Occurred on 10/30/08 at 6:30 a.m. UNIVERSITY TEACHING CENTER, 105 West 21st Street Criminal Trespass Warning: A non-UT subject was found sleeping on a box in a grassy area located next to the building. The subject was issued a written criminal trespass warning. Occurred on 10/31/08 at 3:53 a.m. UT ADMINISTRATION PARKING GARAGE, 1616 Guadalupe Theft: The following 10 bicycles were stolen form a fenced-in area of the first level of the parking garage: 1. blue Centurion Elite bicycle 2. silver Marin CS hybrid bicycle 3. grey Roadmaster bicycle 4. blue Roadmaster bicycle 5. black and grey Specialized bicycle 6. yellow Raliegh M60 Bicycle 7. blue and silver Sun Comfort hybrid bicycle 8. grey Roland Paddlesack Hybrid bicycle 9. silver and red Mongoose DXR bicycle 10. blue Huffy bicycle Aggregate loss value: $1,600. Occurred on 10/29/08 between 12:17 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. 100 East Inner Campus Drive Theft: A blue and white Trek bicycle was stolen while it was secured with a cable lock to a bicycle rack located by the “Y†in the road. When the bicycle was stolen, it had a u-lock affixed to the frame that was not used to secure the bicycle. Loss value: $350.00. Occurred on 10/30/08 between 12:45 p.m. and 1:50 p.m. Crime Prevention Tip: It's sad really – by simply using the u-lock to secure the bicycle, the owner would more than likely be pedaling to class today. Because the owner did not take that extra few seconds to secure the bicycle with the u-lock, the thief had the opportunity to spend a few seconds to commandeer the bicycle. Also, pay attention to the time frame of this theft. Crimes can happen at any time – day or night. 300 West 27th Street Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol by a Minor / Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor: A UT student, who was under the age of 21, was stopped for obstructing the roadway in a blue Toyota pick-up truck. Both the driver and the UT student passenger, who was also under the age of 21, were found to have consumed alcoholic beverages. The driver was under the influence of alcohol, but not to the point he was deemed to be driving while intoxicated. Occurred on 10/31/08 at 2:20 a.m. CAMPUS WIDE: Non-Criminal Calls: In addition to the above criminal cases, The University of Texas Police Department responded to 26 alarm calls, 2 medical emergency reports, 11 unsecured door reports, 3 suspicious activity reports and 2 collision reports between 10/30/08 and 10/31/08. 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 via e-mail to Darrell.halstead@austin.utexas.edu . Prepared by WRP ISA To subscribe or unsubscribe, visit http://www.utexas.edu/police/campuswatch/subscribe.php
