Campus Watch: Below is a summary of campus activity reported to or observed by The University Police Department Patrol Officers between Monday, 11/03/14 and Tuesday, 11/04/14. BLANTON MUSEUM OF ART, 1900 Speedway Criminal Trespass Warning / Failure to Identify: A non-UT subject was reported as sleeping on the west side of the museum. When the slumbering subject was awakened he proceeded to provide a fictitious name to the officer who gave him the wake-up call. Once the subject’s true identity was learned, he was issued a written criminal trespass warning. Occurred on 11/03/14 at 8:17 PM. HARRY RANSOM CENTER, 300 West 21st Street Criminal Trespass: UT Police Officers responded to a report of a purse that had been stolen and then located inside a 1st floor men’s restroom. When the purse was located, a single non-UT individual was inside the men’s restroom. While the non-UT individual could not be linked to the purse, he was linked to several prior arrests for criminal trespass. After this call, he will be linked to one more arrest for criminal trespass. The purse and all of its contents were recovered. Occurred on 11/03/14 at 1:15 PM. JESTER EAST, 201 East 21st Street Theft: A blue Jamis Cruiser bicycle was stolen while it was secured to a bicycle rack located on the west side of the dormitory. Loss value: $380.00. Occurred between 10/29/14 at approximately 8:00 AM and 11/01/14 at approximately 3:00 PM NORTH END ZONE, 405 East 23rd Street Theft: A credit card and a debit card were stolen out of a purse that was left inside an unsecured storage room located in the 1st floor Food Court. Occurred on 11/03/14 between 11:45 AM and 12 noon. PRATHER HALL DORMITORY, 305 East 21st Street Suspicious Activity: An unknown subject approached the main entrance and attempted to open the door without a swipe card. A resident inside the dormitory observed this subject’s behavior and opened the door for the subject and allowed him entrance. The subject then went to the front desk and asked if the dormitory had a laundry room before inquiring about employment. After the staff member directed the subject to other dormitories regarding employment, the subject claimed to be raising money for his church and asked for a donation. After the staff member declined, the subject again asked for a laundry room before walking away. The staff member attempted to keep an eye on the subject but lost sight of him. Responding officers located a resident of the dormitory who indicated a subject matching the description entered her unlocked dormitory room and closed the door behind him. The subject told the resident he was raising money for a charity. After the resident gave him some change, he asked for a laundry room. The resident led the subject to a first floor laundry room. Once the subject looked into the laundry room he exited the dormitory through a stairwell exit door. The subject was described as a Black male approximately 40 years old, missing several front teeth and was last seen wearing a black t-shirt with the words “Hip Hop Legend” on the front of the shirt and had an identification badge stating “Emergency Response Team” on the front of the badge. Reported on 11/03/14 at 3:15 PM. Crime Prevention Tip: I apologize for the length of this entry, but this caper illustrates so many crime prevention issues. First and foremost, the card reader doors on campus are intended to keep unauthorized people out of restricted areas. If you do not know someone has authorization to be in an area and they do not have the proper credentials, do not help them to commit a crime or put others at risk by allowing that person into a secured area. Many people who wish to commit criminal acts have a difficult time keeping their back story on track. In this case, the subject inquired about a laundry room and a job before trying to solicit money. If someone’s story seems convoluted or complex, keep in mind that person probably has a single purpose. Boil their story down to that item and you will get a clear picture of their intentions. I would also like to point out that solicitation on campus is a violation of the UT System Regent Rules and Regulations. That being said, once an unauthorized person asks for money, they have violated that rule and are no longer a welcome guest on the UT Campus. The police should be contacted to investigate the situation and take appropriate action. Finally – and by all means, most importantly. The fact this subject entered an occupied dormitory room and closed the door behind him sends chills down my spine. This case could have turned out much worse. Students; please, I beg of you – DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DORMITORY ROOM DOOR OR APARTMENT DOORS & WINDOWS UNLOCKED. Keep your doors and windows closed and locked at all times. 700 Colorado Street Public Intoxication: A non-UT subject was observed stumbling as he attempted to walk. The subject continued his bumbling gait into a construction site where he finally lost his balance to the point he fell into a wall. The officer stopped the subject and quickly learned the subject’s battle with gravity was not over as the officer had to literally catch the subject and hold him up. The subject was found to be under the influence of an intoxicating liquid to the point he was a danger to himself and others. Occurred on 11/04/14 at 1:07 AM. 2400 San Jacinto Speeding / Assist Outside Agency / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia: A non-UT subject was stopped for speeding while driving a silver colored Mitsubishi 2-door. The subject was found to have an outstanding outside agency arrest warrant for theft. The subject was also found to be in possession of a small pipe containing burned marijuana residue. Occurred on 11/04/14 at 4:50 AM. The University of Texas Police Department responded to 22 Alarm Reports, 1 “Police Help” Callbox Activation, 9 Suspicious Activity Reports, 10 Traffic Violations, 1 Motor Vehicle Collision, 5 Unsecured Door Reports, 1 Gas Leak, 2 Medical Emergency Reports, 2 Found Property Reports and 8 Public Assist Report between 11/03/14 and 11/04/14. Prepared by: Ofc. WR π/ To subscribe or unsubscribe, visit http://www.utexas.edu/police/campuswatch/subscribe.php/
