To: All Faculty & All Academic Professionals & All Civil Service Staff &
           All Undergrad Students & All Grad Students <everybody@illinois.edu> 
    From: "Chief Krystal Fitzpatrick" <dps-mail@uiuc.edu>

Reply-To: dps-mail@uiuc.edu
 Subject: Public Safety Bulletin

The Division of Public Safety at Urbana-Champaign works hard to provide a
safe and secure environment for our students, faculty and staff. 
Unfortunately, crime does occur, and I write today to keep you informed of
a number of incidents that have happened in the campus district since the
start of this academic year.  

Several people have been robbed, some at gunpoint, in the campus district,
which is bounded by University Avenue, Windsor Road, the railroad tracks
along Neil Street and Race Street.  These crimes of have taken place
between 8:00 p.m. -  4:00 a.m., and the suspects have used a number of
tactics to approach their victims.  These tactics have included catching
the victim by surprise and approaching individuals and asking for
cigarettes. University of Illinois Police are working closely with city
police departments to catch the criminals.

These robberies are known as "crimes of opportunity," because the criminals
watch for people who they consider easier to victimize. That means you can
take steps to reduce your chances of becoming a target. First, pay close
attention to your surroundings; do not place yourself in a position where
you are unable to detect individuals who may be approaching you.  Always
walk with a friend or join a group. Better yet, use the services of either
SafeRides 265-7433 or SafeWalks, 333-1216.  If you feel something is
suspicious, call our local emergency number, 911 from your cell phone or
9-911 from campus phones. If you have information about the perpetrators,
call Crimestoppers at 373-TIPS or the University Police Department at
333-1216. We will post information on the recent robberies on our website
at www.dps.uiuc.edu. 

Our goal is for you to be safe, but we need you to always be aware of your
surroundings and to let us know if you see any suspicious activity. If you
would like to talk to an officer about additional safety tips, please call
us at 333-1216.

Thank you.

Chief Krystal Fitzpatrick
Interim Executive Director, Division of Public SafetyThis mailing approved by:
The Office of the Chancellor

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