Welcome back to Campus for the Spring Semester! Crime Prevention Tip of the Week: UTPD has observed and is investigating an increase in thefts on campus. The majority of these crimes have a common factor: property was left unattended. Even in your office, or at the library, or for just five minutes, secure your valuables or take them with you. Get to know your neighbors in your workplace, even if it includes different departments, so you can recognize when someone doesn’t belong. Be observant. Know your options for reaching UTPD if you determine someone is suspicious. Reducing opportunities for theft makes UT Austin safer. Campus Watch: Below is a summary of campus criminal activity reported to or observed by The University of Texas At Austin Police Department Patrol Officers during the between Sunday 12/16/18 and Saturday 01/21/19. 1/21/2019, at 06:00 a.m., 2624 Whitis Ave. (Almetris Duren Hall). Theft, Warrants, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia: A UT Student working the front desk of Duren Hall observed a man stealing several bicycles and dialed 911. As UTPD responded, the man attempted to steal yet more bicycles, and when officers arrived, they suspected a man moving multiple bikes behind a dumpster was their suspect. Officers were able to verify who their suspect was, and arrested this man on warrants, and for possession of a methamphetamine pipe. Upon further investigation, the officers observed that seven bikes had been removed from bike racks, however the thief had attempted and failed to steal two bikes that were double locked. Make sure you register your bikes (for free) with Parking and Transportation to facilitate officers contacting you in the event your bike is recovered. Also check out our video on properly locking your bicycle: https://parking.utexas.edu/bike/locking-your-bike As is tradition, the student who successfully stopped a theft by calling UTPD will be receiving free pizza from an officer. The bike thief who unsuccessfully attempted to steal bicycles received a free ride to the Travis County Jail. 1/14/2019, at 10:41 a.m., 201 E. 21st St. (Jester Academic). Theft: A UT Employee reported that a monitor and a laptop charger were stolen from an unsecured office at some point over the weekend. 1/7/2019, at 2:51 p.m., 110 Inner Campus Drive (Main Building). Theft: An employee of the University discovered her purse was stolen from her office. At some point in the day, someone had entered this office, passed several employees, and took the purse, which was unattended and unsecured. 1/7/2019, at 10:52 a.m., 201 E 24th Street (Peter O’Donnell Building). Theft: An employee of the University recognized a man who had stolen food from a Café in the building in the past. She observed the man begin yelling “Stranger Danger,” take two tacos, and again leave without paying for them. Remember that UTPD officers are well trained in Mental Health Evaluations, and are familiar with local resources that can help. 01/1/2019, at 4:04 p.m., 2504-B Whitis Ave (Communications B) Theft, Abuse of Credit Card: UTPD officers were dispatched to a report of a theft that occurred at Communications Building B. The victim reported that her purse and its contents were stolen from an unlocked filing cabinet in her office. The UT staff member told officers that she was alerted to the theft when she was notified by her bank of multiple fraudulent charges. Always remember to lock your office or room doors when stepping out, even if only for a minute. Thefts are a crime of opportunity, and if you can take away a thief’s opportunity you can help reduce crime on campus. Did you know most banks also have the ability to send notifications to your email or cell phone for any purchases? In instances where credit or debit cards are lost or stolen, having these alerts will stop credit card abuse much more quickly. *The University of Texas Police Department responded to 2530 total calls for service, including 862 Alarm Activations, 519 Foot Patrols, 78 Suspicious Activities, 248 Traffic Violations, and 64 Welfare Concerns between Sunday 12/16/18 and Saturday 01/21/19. This week's Campus Watch was prepared by: Officer Dustin Farahnak.
