Campus Watch: Below is a summary of campus activity reported to or observed by the University Police Department patrol officers between Tuesday, 11/11/08 and Wednesday, 11/12/08. 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. The Austin Police Department has recently taken an assault report that occurred in the area around Lady Bird Lake. In that case, a pedestrian was groped by an unknown individual. In light of that report, we would like to provide general crime prevention tips regarding personal safety. - When possible, travel with friends. There is safety in numbers. - Let others, like your roommate(s), friends and family, know where you are going and when you expect to be back. Also provide those people with a telephone number you can be reached at. - Be observant when walking or driving. Let people know that you are aware of what is going on around you – that makes you a less likely target. - Part of being observant and knowing what is happening around you is keeping your eyes and ears open. Sleeping in public makes you more susceptible to an attack. Walking while talking on a cell phone or listening to your MP3 player with both ear buds in makes you less aware. Save the call for a later time and walk or run with only one ear bud in – that allows you to hear people around you with the other ear. - Listen to your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable, then leave the area. The best way to avoid or end an attack or conflict is to leave the area. - Avoid areas that are convenient for an attacker. Areas with natural hiding places like locations with vegetation overgrowth, blind spots in a building's design, narrowing of pathways around trees, buildings, parking lots etc, are good places for an attacker to lay in wait. If the place you are in gives you a bad feeling, then leave that area and go to the last place you felt safe. - Keep a cellular telephone with you at all times. A cell phone is a life-line to the police department. If you ever find yourself thinking, “should I call the police?†Then yes, you should call the police. (9-1-1 is a free cell phone call and can not be blocked; even if you do not have a cell phone carrier.) - Prepare your body and boost your confidence. Both of these concerns may be addressed by taking advantage of the many programs offered right here on campus. The UT Police Department offers a Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) program free of charge to female faculty, staff and student members. This free 16-hour course teaches you to be more aware, to take preventative measures and to defend yourself if need be. To sign-up for the RAD program visit: http://www.utexas.edu/police/rad/ The Division of Recreational Sports offers several Sports Clubs that provide martial arts and defensive training. For more information on Rec Sports options, visit http://www.utrecsports.org/activities/activities/martialarts.php You can also take informal classes offered through the Union Informal Classes program. There you find a variety of programs design to boost your abilities and confidence in situations in which you may need to defend yourself. You can find out more information about Informal Classes by visiting their website at: https://informalclasses.org/index2.html BRAZOS GARAGE, 200 East Martin Luther King Assist Outside Agency: Austin Police Officers responded to a restaurant located at 20th Street and Guadalupe on a report of a kidnapping. The suspect vehicle was reported as last seen traveling east on 20th Street. UT Officers began to search the area and quickly located the vehicle by the Brazos Garage. The vehicle was occupied by 5 UT students. During interviews, the students admitted they were playing a “hide-n-seek†type of game that led to four of the students forcing the fifth student into their car. Occurred on 11/11/08 at 5:44 p.m. Safety Tip: While it was a different century when I last attended college, I still remember the desire to have fun and enjoy all of the experiences that come with the mantle of being a college student. I also recall having an inkling of an idea of what constitutes common sense and good judgment. I'm not encouraging you to cease any and all fun activities. I am imploring each of you to hesitate just long enough to consider how your actions may be viewed by others and what their impression of your actions may lead to. Kidnapping is a serious crime that is handled by the police in a vastly different manner than your run of the mill traffic stop. GEOGRAPHY BUILDING, 210 West 24th Street Theft: A white Fuji Newest 4.0 bicycle was stolen while it was secured with an older model u-lock (uses a barrel or round shaped key) and a cable lock to a bicycle rack located on the north side of the building. Loss value: $400.00. Occurred between 11/10/08 at 12 noon and 11/11/08 at 11:00 a.m. Crime Prevention Tip: I know the locking mechanisms in this case seem to be spot on as UTPD's maximum recommendation for bicycle security. But upon closer consideration, consider the u-lock. The older model u-locks that use a barrel key are susceptible to theft with the use of a common pen. That is why UTPD recommends as a minimum the use of a u-lock that uses a flat or standard key. The self-locking cable lock serves as added security. Self-locking means the cable secures the bicycle independently of the u-lock; in other words; the cable has its own lock. SUTTON HALL, 210 West 21st Street Theft: A Sony Handycam digital video camera was stolen from a 1st floor storage area. The storage area is normally secured with a pad-lock. At the time the theft was discovered, the pad-lock was missing. Loss value: $900.00. Occurred between 10/24/08 at 6:00 p.m. and 10/26/08 at 10:00 a.m. Crime Prevention Tip: If you have a secluded area that is not being monitored regularly, consider using a disc lock to secure the hasp. A disc lock is designed to prevent someone from using a cutting device to cut the shackle of lock. UT Shuttle Bus (IF Route) Theft: A Dell Latitude D610 laptop computer was stolen after it was left on a UT IF Shuttle Bus. Loss value: $1,000.00. Occurred on 11/11/08 between 12:53 p.m. and 1:03 p.m. 2500 Guadalupe Driving While Intoxicated / Assist Outside Agency: A non-UT subject was stopped after failing to maintain a single traffic lane while driving a 1998 Pontiac Firebird north on Guadalupe Street. During the investigation, the subject showed several classic signs of intoxication; including the loss of control over one bodily function. Down to the last drop, the subject was deemed to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage to the point he was driving while intoxicated. Occurred on 11/12/08 at 2:49 a.m. CAMPUS WIDE: Non-Criminal Calls: In addition to the above criminal cases, the University of Texas Police Department responded to 16 alarm calls, 1 unsecured door report, 2 welfare concern reports, 1 accidental damage report and 1 suspicious activity report between 11/10/08 and 11/11/08. 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
