UTPD Announcements: Take our self-defense class! UTPD is hosting a free, three day Rape Aggression Defense course April 6-8 for any member of the UT community. Register now: https://police.utexas.edu/services/rad Civilian Response to Active Shooter Event Public training open to all members of the UT community set for Wednesday, April 8th from 2 to 3 p.m. in the William C. Powers, Jr. Student Activity Center, room 2.302. More information here: https://police.utexas.edu/events/5 Safer by the Slice Winner The free pizza goes to… Department of Geography and the Environment Senior Lecturer and University/Incident Response Meteorologist Troy Kimmel! UTPD rewarded Troy for his outstanding leadership in teaching students what to do in case of an active shooter event. If you report a crime in progress, or take emergency action that saves a life, you too may qualify for a free pizza. Learn more: https://police.utexas.edu/community/safer-slice February 21, 2020, 8:35 a.m., 2300 block of Robert Dedman Drive Insurance Scam: While traveling along Robert Dedman Drive, an officer was flagged down by a UT staff member. The staff member stated that a vehicle had been following them since Highway 290 and I-35. During that time, the staff member said the unknown vehicle repeatedly stopped and blocked them. When the staff member got to campus, the unknown vehicle got in front and stopped in the southbound lane of Robert Dedman, blocking them in for a final time. The driver of the unknown vehicle got out and said that the staff member hit their car and they needed $500. The staff member said the driver left upon seeing UTPD’s arrival. Safety Tip: This form of an attempted staged crash is known as the “Swoop and Squat.” In this case, the drivers demanded cash. However, it’s possible that faked injuries were also part of the plan. UTPD, fortunately, found this problem before it escalated. Should a car accident turn hostile, or you believe you may be a victim of some form of fraud, dial 911. As this incident showed, police presence made a significant difference. Remember to always give other cars plenty of space on the road and be prepared for the unexpected. February 22, 2020, 9:46 p.m., 2406 Trinity Street, Music Building and Recital Hall (MRH) Disturbance/ Criminal Trespass Warning: A UTPD officer was dispatched to the Music Building and Recital Hall (MRH) for a report of a suspicious subject inside harassing students. Upon arrival, the officer met with a UT student who gave a description of the suspect. The student stated the subject entered the Bates Recital Hall where they were having an event. After the event was over, the subject went onto the stage and began playing the piano. The stage and piano are not available unless you are a UT student or employee. The director told the subject several times to get off the stage, but the subject ignored them. After another order to get off the stage, the subject complied and left the building. A detective working nearby observed a subject matching the description from the incident. The subject was given a Criminal Trespass Warning and told to leave campus. Safety Tip: It’s often appropriate for a UT staff member to ask someone to leave, or verify they are where they belong, and then refer the matter to UTPD. If you find yourself in doubt in a situation like this, call 911 so we can help you. This Campus Watch was prepared by Officers J. Tesauro and D. Farahnak. Don’t forget to connect with UTPD via Twitter and Facebook, and remember you can reach out to your campus District Representative with any non-emergency concerns or questions you have. Other great social media resources include the Twitter feeds for UT Austin’s Office of Campus Safety and the Austin Police Department. To view our official crime log, visit: https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/fasweb/utpd/nlogon/crimelog/
