Campus Watch: Below is a summary of campus activity reported to or observed by the University Police Department patrol officers between Friday, 02-27-09 and Tuesday, 03-03-09. GOLDSMITH HALL, #5 West Mall Criminal Mischief (2 Counts) / Criminal Trespass Warning (2 Counts): A UT police officer observed two non-UT subjects bend over as if they were searching for something on the ground. As the officer approached, he soon discovered the subjects were writing logos with chalk on the sidewalk. The subjects were detained and issued written Criminal Trespass Warnings. Criminal Mischief charges are pending. Occurred on: 2-18-09, at 2:45 AM. JESTER WEST DORMITORY, 201 East 21st Street Suspicious Person: A UT staff member observed an unknown subject standing next to a secured bicycle. The staff member saw the subject inspecting the chain lock, but each time the subject saw someone approaching, he would release the chain lock. The staff member last saw the unknown subject walking between Jester East and Jester West dormitories. The unknown subject was described as: Black male, 40 years of age, was last seen wearing a dark jacket and dark colored pants. Occurred on: 3-02-09, at 1:50 AM. KINSOLVING DORMITORY, 2605 Whitis Ave. Criminal Trespass Warning: A UT student reported a non-UT subject was making rude comments to passing females. Many of the comments were offensive. During the investigation, the officers located the subject sitting on top of a trashcan. The subject stated that he always passes along complements to passing females. The subject was issued a written Criminal Trespass Warning and was escorted from the area. Occurred on: 2-18-09, at 2:55 AM. PHYSICAL PLANT, 1300 Block Manor Road Public Intoxication: A UT police officer discovered a vehicle parked next to the gas pumps, and a non-UT subject slumped over in the driver's seat. During the investigation, the officer soon realized the driver was intoxicated. The officer asked the driver for his driver's license and was handed a pack of cigarettes, then a credit card. The non-UT subject informed the officer a friend was going to pick him up, but did not know when or where his friend lived. The subject was taken into custody for Public Intoxication and was transported to Central Booking. Occurred on: 2-18-09, at 4:19 AM. ROBERT L. MOORE HALL, 2515 Speedway Criminal Mischief: Words written in chalk were discovered on the northwest exterior wall of the building. Loss value: Unknown at this time. Discovered on: 2-28-09, at 2:49 PM. UNION BUILDING, #4 West Mall Criminal Trespass: A UT staff member observed a known offender in a restricted area located on the third floor of the building. During the investigation, the officers learned the subject had been arrested eight days prior in the same location. The subject was again was taken into custody for Criminal Trespass and was transported to Central Booking. Occurred on: 2-18-09, at 9:47 PM. 1900 BLOCK SAN JACINTO BLVD Criminal Mischief: A UT student discovered the driver's side window of her vehicle broken. During the investigation, the officer learned, after the vehicle was inventoried that nothing had been taken from within the vehicle. Loss value: $400.00. Occurred between: 2-28-09, and 3-01-09. 2300 BLOCK TRINITY Assist Outside Agency / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia: A UT police officer observed a Ford Focus committing several traffic violations. During the traffic investigation, the officers soon learned that the UT student had several outstanding outside agency arrest warrants. The subject was taken into custody and was transported to Central Booking. During a search of the subject's vehicle, the officers discovered a glass pipe that contained burned marijuana residue in the bowl. The residue tested positive for marijuana. Additional charges for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia were filed. Occurred on: 3-01-09 at 12:30 AM. 2500 BLOCK WHITIS AVE Assist Outside Agency: A non-UT subject reported the driver of a bronze colored Ford F-150 truck struck his vehicle then drove away. During the investigation, the officers searched the area but were unable to located the Ford truck. Loss value: Unknown at this time. Occurred on: 3-01-09, at 12:35 AM. Spring Break Safety Tips With Spring Break rapidly approaching, it is time to start looking at safety and security tips pertaining to Spring Break activities. I would like to start this series of tips with a very specific tip. - The State Department issued a travel safety alert on February 20, 2009. The safety alert reads as follows: The U.S. State Department has renewed a travel advisory warning Americans about an increase in violence along the U.S.-Mexico border. The alert does not recommend staying away from the country or any particular part of it, but advises American to stay away from prostitution and drug-dealing areas. It recommends visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas. The alert issued Friday says violent crime is particularly worrisome along the U.S.-Mexico border, where automatic weapons and grenades have been used in clashes between police and drug traffickers. More than 6,000 people were killed in drug violence in Mexico last year. - Prepare your residence for your Spring Break absence. - Make sure you have your mail held at the post office and your newspaper deliver suspended. - Check out an electric timer from the police department. A timer can be used to turn your interior lights on and off. This gives the impression your home is occupied. - Make sure your lawn, if you have one, is mowed and edged before you leave. An unkempt lawn is an indication no one is at home. - Bring items inside. Bicycles, lawn chairs, potted plants – pretty much anything that you don't want walking off – should be brought inside. This advice is for dormitory residents as well. BRING YOUR BICYCLE INTO YOUR DORMITORY ROOM DURING SPRING BREAK! Don't just bring your bike into your room; use your lock to secure it to something in your room. - Contact your police department to set-up a close-patrol check of your residence. This lets the police department know you will be out of town and serves as a request to have patrol officers check your residence during their patrols. - Prepare your vehicle for Spring Break - This would be a good time to have a mechanic go over your vehicle. - Change the oil - Check all of your fluid levels and tire pressure - Put together an emergency kit. This kit will contain some of the following items: Water Granola bars or your favorite snacks First Aid kit CAMPUS WIDE: Non-Criminal Calls: In addition to the above criminal cases, the University of Texas Police Department responded to 35 alarm calls, 9 suspicious activity reports, 4 welfare concern reports, 3 found property report and 9 unsecured door reports between 02-27-09 to 03-03-09. 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 DWH To subscribe or unsubscribe, visit http://www.utexas.edu/police/campuswatch/subscribe.php
