Dear campus community member:
We would like to inform you of a crime that has recently occurred in the campus area so you have the information you need to take the appropriate precautions. This message alone is not necessarily an indication that crime rates on campus have increased or that a pattern of crime has emerged. For a more comprehensive look at crime in your area, you can view the daily crime log.
The Champaign Police Department has informed the University of Illinois Police Department that a man claiming to be a maintenance worker inappropriately touched a U. of I. student Tuesday, March 29, at a private apartment in the 300 block of East Armory Avenue, Champaign (map):
The man was allowed into the apartment under the presumption that he was there to complete maintenance work. He entered a bedroom and touched a resident’s leg without her consent.
The report follows several others on Monday and Tuesday of people who have knocked on doors claiming to be representatives of an energy company and asking to see residents’ electric bills. Police have not been able to verify that anyone involved is a legitimate maintenance worker or business representative. Whether the incidents are related remains under investigation.
Although these incidents have not occurred on campus property, we are informing you of these reports because they have affected an area with a significant student population. Residents in the campus area should take the following precautions:
- Lock your doors and windows, even when you are at home. This is a general safety tip that is recommended at all times, not just in response to this notice.
- Do not allow someone to enter your residence if you do not know who they are or cannot verify their identity.
- Do not allow anyone to view or photograph your utility bills. Your bills contain personal information that can be used later in a scam or other unwanted communication.
- Be aware of scams involving people who claim to be representatives of electric or energy companies. They have been reported to use aggressive tactics to pressure residents into making financial decisions about their utilities. Never agree to anything on the spot – instead ask the salesperson to leave the premises.
- Call 911 immediately if someone refuses to leave the property after you have asked them to leave.
University Police, in cooperation with the Champaign Police Department and the Urbana Police Department, has a full complement of officers patrolling the campus area. Between these agencies, our campus is one of the most highly-patrolled areas in the region. More than 2,300 security cameras are posted around campus to deter crime and identify offenders.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Champaign Police Department at 217-351-4545. Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous may submit tips to Champaign County Crime Stoppers by phone at 217-373-8477 (TIPS); online at 373tips.com; or by downloading the P3 Tips mobile app. Information submitted to Crime Stoppers is completely anonymous. Calls are routed to a third-party national call center that receives your crime tip, completes a tips information form and then passes the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Caller ID tracking is not utilized by Crime Stoppers, and conversations are not recorded.
This is our community. Let's stay together.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus is a safe one, but a community of our size will never be crime-free. University Police and its partner law enforcement agencies work hard to prevent crime and to quickly identify and arrest offenders when crime occurs, but you play the most important role in keeping our campus community safe.
- Stay together. Do not walk alone at night. Travel in groups and in well-lit areas. Call 217-333-1216 for a SafeWalks escort if you need one.
- Be alert. Maintaining awareness of your surroundings is critical, especially when traveling at night. Wearing headphones or looking at your phone diminishes your ability to respond to your surroundings. Walk with purpose, and stay attentive.
- Trust your instincts. If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. Call police if something looks odd — we're happy to assist, and even the smallest bit of information could prevent another crime.
- Watch out for each other. Call 911 immediately if you or someone else is in danger. The University encourages students to take appropriate action to protect others’ safety by reducing students’ fear of legal or disciplinary consequences to the victim or themselves. For more information, please review the Medical Amnesty and Survivor Protections.
- If you choose to consume alcohol, please be responsible. Remember your ability to respond is diminished by overconsumption of alcohol.
Please take a moment to review these resources we have made available to keep you informed, and consider liking UIPD on Facebook, following us on Twitter or subscribing to our news feed to receive regular updates.
