UWPD Investigating Campus Thefts
- Incident date: April 29, 2021, 12:30 pm
- Incident type: Theft
- Location/address: UW Madison Campus
The UW-Madison Police Department is investigating a series of thefts and multiple instances of suspicious activity on the UW-Madison campus over the last week.
During the course of the investigation, UWPD officers have made contact with, and interviewed, multiple victims, and have identified a suspect through witness descriptions and on security cameras in the campus area.
UWPD officers were able to contact the suspect today after a UW-Madison campus community member called dispatch to report the suspect entering a secured campus building immediately behind another person, using that person’s credentials to gain access – i.e., “piggybacking.” During this contact, the suspect was taken into custody on a WI Department of Corrections warrant unrelated to the on-campus incidents. The suspect is currently being held in the Dane County Jail on the warrant and charges from UWPD related to the on-campus incidents will be referred as the investigation continues.
The UW-Madison Police Department is actively investigating these incidents and anyone with information is urged to contact UWPD at (608) 264-2677. Photos of the suspect are included in this release so any additional victims or witnesses who may have observed the suspect on campus can come forward with information that may assist with the investigation.
As a reminder to our campus community, nothing is fail safe, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself from similar crimes:
– Make sure your belongings are secure as possible. It takes just seconds for someone to steal your property.
– If you cannot lock your valuables when leaving a room or public area, take them with you, even if you will only be gone for a short period of time.
– Be aware of suspicious activity such as a person trying to open various doors to see if they are unlocked. Report this activity to police.
– Never allow others to piggyback their way into a secure area of a residence hall or elevator. A simple statement like, “I’m sorry, I don’t recognize you – please scan your ID or use your key” goes a long way in keeping our community safe.
– If you witness a crime in progress, call 911 immediately.
