Campus Watch: Below is a summary of campus activity reported to or observed by The University Police Department Patrol Officers between Thursday, 03/27/14 and Friday, 03/28/14. ***Scam Alert*** Yesterday, the UT Police Department took a suspicious activity report that re-introduces an oldie but a goodie - the “Toner Phoner” Office Supply Scam. This scam is a simple one. It starts with an unsolicited phone call to a business or office. The caller asks the person who answers the call for a multitude of information – most typically about the type of copier / printers that are used in the office. The caller will state they are conducting a survey or that they are confirming information for a placed supply order. The caller is looking to get as much information about such office equipment as he or she can get – copier make, model and even serial numbers. The caller frequently asks for information about the office manager, supply clerk or office supervisor. Once the caller obtains this information and hangs-up, he or she will make a fake invoice and send it with poor quality supplies to the company at over-inflated prices. The invoice has “make payment” information. The caller then simply waits to see which companies they contacted fall for the invoice and submit payments. This is a simple scam to avoid. Simply do not provide office equipment information over the phone to any unsolicited caller. Leave office equipment issues to the employee in your office who handles supplies. GARRISON HALL, 128 Inner Campus Drive Burglary of Motor Vehicle: A black Apple iPhone 3 cellular telephone was stolen out of an unsecured white Chevrolet Van while the vehicle was parked on the west side of the building while the owner made a delivery inside the building. Loss value: $100.00. Occurred on 03/27/14 between 11:00 AM and 11:15 AM. GREGORY GYMNASIUM, 2101 Speedway Theft: A black Apple iPhone 4 cellular telephone was stolen when it was left on a locker room bench. The owner placed the telephone on the bench and turned around to gather items out of his locker. When he turned back toward the telephone he noticed it had been stolen. Loss value: $300.00. Occurred on 03/27/14 around 9:30 AM. Crime Prevention Tip: I am sure many of you recall countless times when we have mentioned never leaving your property unattended. This is a good example of what we really mean – you need to always have your eye on your property or be in physical contact. A thief only needs a second of inattention or distraction to commit a theft. When you turn your back on your property, a thief turns his attention to it. PARKING LOT 70, 2000 Robert Dedman Leaving the Scene Collision: The rear bumper of a green Honda 4-door was struck while the Honda was parked and unattended. The driver of the striking car did not leave driver information. Repair cost: $1,000.00. Occurred on 03/26/14 between 7:30 AM and 8:40 PM. UNION BUILDING, 2308 Whitis Public Intoxication / Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor: A UT student, who was under the age of 21, was reported as being “highly intoxicated” while in the Underground Bowling Alley. The subject was located and did illustrate an inability to maintain his balance on his own. The student was found to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage to the point he was a physical danger to himself. In lieu of arresting the student, he was turned over to a family member who agreed to accept care, custody and control of him. The student was issued a citation for the Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor before he was released. Occurred on 03/28/14 at 12:06 AM. About the Law: Public Intoxication is a crime center around protecting the public more than it is about punishing the offender. Someone is deemed publically intoxicated when they appear intoxicated in a public place to the point they are a danger to themselves or others. Because it is based in public safety, officers need to make sure the subject will be taken care of. To that end, a person who is publically intoxicated can be turned over to sober responsible adult, sent to the hospital if their level of intoxication requires medical attention or placed under arrest and transported to jail where deputies will assume the role of caretakers. There is no better reason to have a sober friend with you – it can keep you out of jail. As you see in this case, anytime a minor consumes an alcohol beverage, a violation of the law has occurred – so even if you have a sober friend to care for you, if you are younger than 21, you will receive a citation. 1800 Lavaca Assist Outside Agency / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia: A non-UT subject was stopped for failing to maintain a single lane of traffic and speeding while driving a blue Honda Accord. The subject was found to have an outstanding outside agency arrest warrant for speeding…no surprise there. The subject was also found to be in possession of a small pipe containing burned marijuana residue. Occurred on 03/28/14 at 3:03 AM. The University of Texas Police Department responded to 14 Alarm Reports, 2 Collisions, 8 Traffic Violations, 6 Public Assist Requests, 1 Welfare Concern Report, 2 Medical Emergencies, 1 Malfunctioning Light Report, 4 Unsecured Door Reports and 6 Suspicious Activity Reports between 03/27/14 and 03/28/14. ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGES Report bias incidents that you experience or witness to CCRT (Campus Climate Response Team) online at http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ccrt To view a map of the campus visit: http://www.utexas.edu/maps/ Are you a Fan of the University of Texas Police Department? Come join us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/utaustinpolice Online property registration Items with a serial number such as laptops, MP3 players, cell phones, electronics, and bikes are eligible. Registering your property is very helpful in theft investigations and in returning lost property to its rightful owner. Without identifying information, recovering stolen property is virtually impossible. Logon to https://www.utexas.edu/police/property/ to register your property today. SURE Walk is a student-run volunteer group that provides walks to and from campus to UT students, faculty, and staff, with the help of student volunteers. Volunteers are gathered from trusted organizations from around campus, such as Orange Jackets and APO, and include both males and females. An agency of Student Government, SURE Walk is in service Monday through Thursday from 10 p.m. – 2 a.m. during the fall and spring semesters. To order a walk, call (512) 232-9255 or email orderasurewalk@gmail.com, and two volunteers, one male and one female, will meet you at your current location and walk you to your destination, whether it be on campus or in the greater campus neighborhoods. If you have any questions, concerns, or if your organization is interested in volunteering, please e-mail: texassurewalk@gmail.com. Lost and Found Property Did you lose something on campus? Please report your missing property to UTPD Lost and Found at http://www.utexas.edu/police/lostandfound. Or call 512-232-9619 and describe your item to us. If we have your item, we’ll contact you as quickly as possible to arrange its return to you. UTPD handles over 5000 lost and found items each year from campus departments, although we cannot accept clothing, food or drink containers, toiletries, broken or soiled property. Campus departments are encouraged to call 471-4441 to have UTPD pick up lost and found items that are unclaimed after one week. Emergency Text Message Service The University of Texas at Austin and its police department are responsible for notifying faculty, staff, and students of emergency situations (e.g., inclement weather, building evacuations, campus closures, etc.). The University employs a wide variety of tools to make sure everyone on campus is informed during an emergency event—including text messaging. In order to accomplish emergency text messaging more effectively, the University is collecting cell phone numbers from members of our campus community. Effective August 26, 2009, this database of cell phone numbers will be used for emergency text messages. Please complete the form at http://www.utexas.edu/cellphonealert so you will become an integral part of this important emergency notification system and help the university to achieve the highest standards of campus and community safety. Campus Safety and Security at (512) 471-5767 The RAD program is a 12-hour course of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for women that cover assault prevention and risk reduction while progressing on to basic hands-on defense training. http://www.utexas.edu/police/rad/ 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. If you are a faculty or staff member who 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/ 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 Layne Brewster at 512-232-9638 or via e-mail to layne.brewster@austin.utexas.edu Prepared by: Ofc. 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