Crime Prevention Tip of the Week: Each spring break, hundreds of promising futures are cut short because of an intoxicated driver and a deadly crash. You may recall seeing the Texas Department of Transportation on the Speedway Mall discussing their Plan While You Can initiative. You can learn more at http://www.soberrides.org/. At that website, wherever you go in our state, you can find a list of alternative transportation options. Before you go out this Spring Break, check that site and have a plan for you and your friends to get back safely. Rideshare apps, mass transit, cabs, or the gold standard: a sober designated friend, are far better than a DWI charge or the consequences of an accident. Campus Watch: Below is a summary of campus criminal activity reported to or observed by The University of Texas at Austin Police Department between Sunday 3/3/19 and Saturday 3/9/19. 3/6/2019, at 6:30 p.m., 2605 Whitis Ave (Kinsolving Residence Hall). Theft: A pair of UT Students saw a man stealing a bicycle outside a dormitory. While one stayed to keep an eye on the theft, one went into the dorm to tell the front desk. As a result, UTPD received a clear description of the thief and his route away from campus. UTPD searched the area, eventually spotting a man matching that description in an alleyway near the 23rd Street Artist’s market. Officers were able to positively determine that this man did indeed steal a bicycle. Officers issued the thief a Criminal Trespass Warning, meaning that if he returns to campus for any reason without permission from the university, he will be arrested. UTPD also arrested him for the theft and transported him to Travis County Jail. The bicycle was stored at the University Police Building, as UTPD was unable to determine who owned it. Registering your bicycles with UT Parking and Transportation is free and will help you recover your property in this situation. Register at https://parking.utexas.edu/bike/registration. Bikes that are secured with two locks, with the frame secured to the bike rack, are far less likely to be stolen. The good Samaritans who helped UTPD catch a thief are eligible for UTPD’s Safer by the Slice program. If you call UTPD and give us information that helps us arrest someone for a crime against person or property, we will happily buy you pizza. 3/5/2019, at 2:15 p.m., 2101 Speedway (Gregory Gymnasium). Two men in a weight room got into a verbal dispute that escalated to one man physically striking the other. The victim did not contact UTPD at that time. When the victim saw that the suspect was on social media getting into a similar altercation a few days ago, he decided the best course of action was to let UTPD know what he knew about the situation. UTPD was able to identify the suspect with assistance from our partners in the Office of the Dean of Students. Because of the time that had elapsed since the assaults, UTPD went to a judge and obtained an arrest warrant. The suspect was then arrested without further incident. If you are assaulted on campus, dialing 911 as soon as possible is the best way to keep yourself and our community safe. 3/5/2019, at 1:28 p.m., 302 Inner Campus Drive (Battle Hall). A man parked his car at Battle Hall and left a laptop in its bag on a seat of his car. He didn’t lock the doors. When he returned half an hour later, his laptop and its accessories were missing. Fortunately, he was able to provide UTPD with serial numbers that we can use to identify a suspect if the laptop is pawned or recovered by another law enforcement agency. Most of the thefts reported to UTPD involve the same two factors: valuable property was not secured, and valuable property was visible to thieves. The thief, not the victim, is the person responsible for this crime, however we want make UT Austin as uninviting to thieves as possible. Take the time to secure your things. 3/9/2019, at 1:45 a.m., 2222 Guadalupe (CVS). A UTPD Officer observed a disoriented man in the Guadalupe alleyway, behind CVS. The student didn’t know he got there or how he would safely get home. Based on his odor, he was intoxicated on alcohol. This isn’t safe, so the officer took the student to the Sobering Center. The student was kept under watch by Sobering Center staff until he was sober enough to go home with a friend several hours later. Instead of a criminal Public Intoxication charge, the student will be referred to the Dean of Students for education on alcohol safety. UT students should be aware and proactive about the impact of alcohol on our community’s safety. Simply having a sober person with you makes you safer. UTPD also offers alcohol safety classes. If your Fraternity, Philosophy Club, or dorm clique asks, we’ll stop by and talk to you about Medical Amnesty, the Sobering Center, and plenty of other important safety points. All you need to do is email your district representative and ask. 3/9/2019, at 1:45 a.m., 2200 San Antonio. A UTPD officer monitoring APD’s radio heard that there was a serious collision between a pedestrian and a car. Our officer was close and was able to arrive quickly. He saw a man with injuries to his face and made sure Austin/Travis County EMS got to the man quickly. They transported him to the hospital for more assistance. The officer investigated the accident and learned that the man had been riding a Lime Scooter without a helmet, lost control, and fell, striking his head on the pavement. It is not unusual for good Samaritans calling for help to mistake one emergency for something different. What’s most important is that they make the call and give us an accurate location. When you ride a scooter, wear a helmet, drive a safe speed, and know your limits. 3/8/2019, at 11:20 p.m., 1823 Red River St (Frank Erwin Center). Several UTPD officers work security for the many events at the Frank Erwin Center, including the recent Bob Seger concert. Some of these officers saw that the building next door, John Hargis Hall, had a man asleep in the bushes. Officers checked on the man and saw a few symptoms of public intoxication: he was unable to stand without losing balance, he had a heavy odor of alcohol on his breath, his speech was slurred, and he had urinated on himself. Though the man wanted to leave, officers could not let him walk away, because he could stagger into the roadway and cause an accident. As is becoming more and more common with UTPD, we left the man in the care of the nearby Sobering Center without criminal charges. Campus Wide: The University of Texas Police Department responded to 633 total calls for service, including 150 Alarm Activations, 144 Foot Patrols, 46 Traffic Violations, and 17 Welfare Concerns between Sunday 3/3/19 and Saturday 3/9/19. To view our official crime log, visit https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/fasweb/utpd/nlogon/crimelog/.
