Campus Watch: Below is a summary of campus activity reported to or observed by The University Police Department Patrol Officers between Thursday, 11/06/14 and Friday, 11/07/14. ****Austin Crime Alert**** Recently, The University of Texas at Austin Police Department learned of two unrelated robberies that happened near the 40 acres. A robbery is when someone uses force or the threat of force or displays a weapon in the process of committing a theft or felony. One case occurred in the 5th Street and Colorado area where a pedestrian was approached from behind by a subject who grabbed the victim’s wallet and ran away. That subject was described as a Black male subject in his 20’s and approximately 6’ tall and was last seen wearing a maroon or red colored sweatshirt and black pants. In the other robbery, a UT student, who was walking near his residence in the 1900 block of San Antonio Street, was approached by a Black male subject in his 20’s. The suspect displayed a weapon and demanded money. The suspect then fled the area in a gold colored Nissan Sentra with silver rims. If you have any information regarding either of these cases, please contact the UT Police Department at 512-471-4441 or the Austin Police Department at 3-1-1. The biggest key in preventing a robbery is being aware of your surroundings. Just what does that mean – to be aware of your surroundings? Well, first off, keep your head up. Don’t be looking at your cell phone screen or book while you are walking. Robbers love to attack those that do not see them coming. You should also be mindful of the sounds around you. Sounds like someone running or tires screeching to a halt. Of course you can’t hear such sounds if you are wearing both ear buds – that’s why we call earphones “mugger magnets.” Let one ear bud dangle; you will be much safer that way. Walk with purpose and look at those around you. Nod to people as you walk by them. Such acknowledgment lets them know they have been seen and that you know what they look like. This is important as thieves and robbers want to surprise you. They use speed and terror as a tool in the hopes that you will not be able to provide an accurate description of them to the police. Limit what you carry with you and try to keep your hands free. Always – ALWAYS have a cell phone with you to summon police in the event of any emergency. If a robber confronts you and demands or uses force to take your property, let that person have it – the property that is. Don’t put up a fight or resist the robber. There is nothing in your wallet that is worth risking your life over. More often than not, a robber will take the property they want and flee the area. The best thing you can do is remain calm and without starring at the robber, make a mental picture of him or her so you can provide a good description to the police. Once the robber leaves, go to a safe place and call 9-1-1 to report the robbery. Provide the description of the robber, a description of the robber’s vehicle and the last known direction of travel for the robber to the police dispatcher. PARKING LOT 114, 2200 Leona Burglary of Motor Vehicle: An unknown subject entered a silver colored Honda Civic 4-door and stole a Garmin Nuvi Global Position System (GPS) when the GPS device was affixed to the windshield. The dashboard was damaged when the thief removed the power cord to the GPS device. The owner of the vehicle believed he had locked his car doors when he parked the Honda. There was no evidence of forced entry into the vehicle. Loss value: $75.00. Repair cost: $50.00. Occurred between 11/06/14 at 11:30 AM and 11/07/14 at 12 midnight. ROBERT A. WELCH HALL, 105 East 24th Street Suspicious Activity: UT Police Officers were summoned to the bicycle racks where a UT student believed he had located his stolen bicycle at a bike rack and used his bike lock to prevent whoever secured the bike from removing the bike until Parking and Transportation Services (PTS) could confirm the ownership. As it turned out, PTS could confirm the ownership as the bicycle had been registered by the authorized owner of the bicycle prior to the student’s bike being stolen. This was the second time the UT student believed he had found his stolen bike at a bike rack and used his lock to secure the bike. Sadly, the student did not have his bicycle registered and he did not know the serial number to the bicycle. Occurred on 11/06/14 at 3:00 PM. Crime Prevention Tip: As you could imagine, bicycle manufacturers want to make money so they duplicate the same make, model and color of bicycles for sale – repeatedly. The only positive identifier on a bicycle is the unique serial number for the bicycle or an owner applied number like a state issued driver’s license number stamped into the frame. In this case, the victim did not have either for his stolen bicycle making it difficult to prove ownership. To help locate and identify your bicycle or to prove ownership of your bicycle when someone else believes your bike is their stolen bike, get it registered today. Bicycle registration captures the make, model, color and serial number of your bicycle which helps establish ownership. Bicycle registration is free and is required for any bicycle operated or parked on the campus. Bicycle registration can be done on-line at: http://www.utexas.edu/parking/bike/ SAN JACINTO PARKING GARAGE, 2401 San Jacinto Criminal Mischief: The exit gate located on the 3rd floor exit off of Trinity Street was manually forced open. A review of the garage’s video surveillance footage showed a male subject driving a white Volvo station wagon approaching several gates in an attempt to exit the garage. The subject then drove up to the 3rd floor exit gate and got out of his vehicle. The subject then pushed the exit gate open before leaving the garage. This manual operation of the gate damaged the exit gate’s motor. Repair cost: $150.00. Occurred on 11/06/14 at 1:58 AM. UNION BUILDING, 2308 Whitis Public Intoxication: A UT student was reported as being intoxicated in the Cactus Café. The responding officers learned from the building manager that the subject needed to use several inanimate objects and a few animate ones to maintain his balance and state of vertical positioning. Officers asked the subject to call a friend who could care for him and after several attempts; the subject admitted he was unable to figure out how to turn on his cell phone. The subject was found to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage to the point he was a danger to himself and others. Occurred on 11/06/14 at 7:00 PM. UNIVERSITY POLICE BUILDING, 2201 Robert Dedman Harassment: A UT student came to the police department to report being contacted several times by a former acquaintance of hers who is also a UT student. The student advised she directed the other student to stop contacting her. The other student continued to make contact with her through her social media sites and in person. Reported on 11/06/14 at 1:09 PM. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING, 1616 Guadalupe Graffiti: A black permanent marker was used to write a word on a stairwell wall located on the 7th floor of the building. Removal cost: $30.00. Reported on 11/06/14 at 1:43 PM. 2400 Nueces Disorderly Conduct – Fighting in Public (2 counts) / Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor (2 Counts): A UT police officer observed two UT students, who were both under the age of 21, engaged in a physical struggle. The investigation revealed the argument began over the fact one of the two students was from California. One of the two students admitted to being drunk while the other stated he had “a little” to drink. Neither student wished to file charges for assault. After being cited, both students were turned over to sober, responsible friends who agreed to assume care custody and control of them. Occurred on 11/07/14 at 1:05 AM. The University of Texas Police Department responded to 23 Alarm Reports, 1 “Police Help” Callbox Activation, 7 Suspicious Activity Reports, 4 Traffic Violations, 1 Motor Vehicle Collision, 2 Medical Emergency Reports, 1 Accidental Damage Report, 3 Welfare Concern Reports and 5 Public Assist Report between 11/06/14 and 11/07/14. Prepared by: Ofc. WR π/ To subscribe or unsubscribe, visit http://www.utexas.edu/police/campuswatch/subscribe.php/
