To: All Faculty & All Academic Professionals & All Civil Service Staff &
           All Undergrad Students & All Grad Students <everybody@illinois.edu> 
    From: "Chief of Police Barbara O'Connor" <dpscomments@illinois.edu>

Reply-To: dps-mail@illinois.edu
 Subject: CRIME-ALERT

Date:		September 13, 2009
To: 		All Faculty, Staff, Students
From: 		Barbara O'Connor, Executive Director of Public Safety
Subject:	Campus Crime Alert

I write to inform you of an incident which poses a continuing risk to 
students and employees of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The University of Illinois and Oak Lawn Police Departments are 
investigating a report of a sexual assault that occurred near Fourth 
Street and Peabody Drive at approximately 12:45 am on September 13th, 
2009. 

On September 13th, 2009, between 12:30 am and 1:00 am, an 18 year old 
female was walking in the area of Fourth Street and Peabody Drive in 
Champaign when she was grabbed by an unknown male and pulled into some 
nearby bushes and sexually assaulted.  The suspect fled the scene when 
other people approached the area.  The victim, who is not a University of 
Illinois student, sought medical attention at an Oak Lawn, Illinois 
hospital.  The victim was unable to provide a description of the suspect.

The University of Illinois Police Department is increasing patrols as a 
result of this incident and is working with the Oak Lawn Police 
Department to identify the suspect. 

Anyone with information about this incident should call the University of 
Illinois Police Department at 217-333-1216.  Information also can be 
shared anonymously through Crimestoppers by calling 217-373-TIPS or 
online at: 
http://www.champaigncountycrimestoppers.com/ 

Police encourage the campus community to report suspicious behavior and 
take actions to remove the opportunity for a crime to occur. The 
following tips are provided to increase your safety.
 
-Do not allow the opportunity for a crime to occur - avoid placing 
yourself in environments where criminals will have the opportunity to 
commit a personal crime.

-Always keep your doors and windows locked.

- If possible, let a friend or roommate know where and with whom you will 
be and when you will be back when you go out.

 -Trust your instincts - if you feel uncomfortable about someone near you 
on the street, in an elevator or getting off a bus, go to a populated 
place or yell for help.

- Use well-lit and busy sidewalks. 

 -Avoid walking alone or walking near vacant lots, alleys, construction 
sites and wooded areas.

 -Learn the locations of emergency phones on campus.

 -Carry a cell phone, whistle or a personal alarm to alert people that 
you need help.

 -Try to park in an area that will be well-lit and heavily traveled when 
you return.

 -If you choose to consume alcohol, drink responsibly - remember your 
ability to respond is diminished by over-consumption of alcohol.

 -Stay alert at all times and call the police immediately to report 
suspicious activity. 

 -Put the contact "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in your cell phone with a 
name and telephone number of a loved one, to enable emergency services 
personnel to contact your family in the event of an emergency.

 -Excessive volume or use of electronic devices (iPods, PDAs, cell 
phones, etc.) distracts you from being alert to potential safety issues. 
Unplug yourself and tune in to your immediate environment.

Finally, if you have not yet done so, please register your contact 
information with Illini-Alert, at emergency.illinois.edu to receive 
messages about critical safety issues on campus.

Barbara R. O'Connor, J.D.
Executive Director of Public Safety
Chief of Police
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
This mailing approved by:
The Office of the Chief of Police

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