University Police

Safety Bulletin - March 18, 2009

In the past five days, four separate thefts have been reported to the SIUE Police Department.  The thefts involved items being taken from offices that were left unattended in Founders Hall and Alumni Hall.

On March 12, 2009, a SIUE employee reported that, between 11:50 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. on March 12th, cash had been stolen from her purse while her purse had been left unattended in her office in Founders Hall.  A suspicious person was observed in the vicinity of her office and is described as a black male, 22-25 years of age, 6’, 180-200 lbs, wearing a plaid shirt, light colored jacket, and dark pants.

On March 16, 2009, a SIUE employee reported that between 2:00 p.m. on March 15th and 10:30 a.m. on March 16th, her wallet had been stolen from her purse while her purse had been left unattended in her office. 

On March 17, 2009, a SIUE employee reported that, between 11:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on March 16th, her wallet had been stolen from her purse while her purse had been left unattended in her office.

On March 17, 2009, a SIUE employee reported that, between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on March 16th, a bracelet had been stolen off her desk while it was left unattended in her office.

In the first two thefts, the employees had exited their offices and left the office door open while they were away.  In the last two thefts, the employees had exited their offices and had closed but not locked the office door while they were away.

Crime reduction on campus requires the continued active support of the University community.  Following are some crime prevention tips that will help us achieve that goal:

When at Work:

• Do not leave valuables in plain sight.  Keep your purse, wallet, and other valuables in a secure location and out of sight.
• Lock your doors whenever you leave your office or room, even if you will only be gone for a minute.
• Be alert for suspicious people or circumstances, such as:

            -  People on foot on the parking lots who appear to be aimlessly walking around the                 parking lot, looking into cars, or trying to open car doors on different vehicles.
            -  People who appear to be aimlessly wandering around campus buildings, going in                  and out of different offices, or exiting unoccupied offices;
            -  People who try to hide, duck down, or be inconspicuous when another person or                   vehicle approaches them;
            -  Someone who appears out of place - you get a gut feel that they don't belong                       there;
            -  Someone in an area that you know is closed, secure, or restricted;
            -  Someone working in an area where work is not usually done; or
            -  A stranger in an area where you normally see familiar faces.

• Rule of Thumb - Coincidence is seeing something or someone once, perhaps twice; three times is no longer a coincidence.

Remember, most thefts of personal property at work occur when personal items of value are left unattended in an unsecured office.  Don’t make it easy – please lock your office door when leaving.

Also, if you see something or someone that appears to be suspicious or out of place, call the police – immediately!  In an emergency, call 911 to reach the SIUE Police.  You may also reach the SIUE Police Department by calling the non-emergency number at 650-3324.

Keep your eyes open and, please, if you see it or hear it, report it immediately!