DPS News

Dear Campus Community Members:

With another weekend upon us, I am writing today to share with you the actions we are taking to keep our campus community safe, as well as reminders of critically important steps you can take to protect yourself and your property and reduce your risk of being a target of criminal activity. 

We are expecting an active weekend, with many activities scheduled on campus, including the Syracuse Football game, which kicks off at noon on Saturday, Sept. 17. Given the ongoing prevalence of burglaries the City of Syracuse is experiencing, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is taking the following actions to dissuade and deter criminal behavior:

1. DPS has increased patrols of the University neighborhoods; the community can expect to see an influx of DPS officers in the area throughout the weekend.
2. The Syracuse Police Department and New York State Police have launched a joint effort to deploy state troopers and additional SPD officers in University-adjacent neighborhoods.
3. DPS continues to communicate regularly with our campus community about actions each of us can take to keep ourselves, our families, roommates, housemates and our residences safe.

As a reminder, it is critically important that our community reman vigilant and alert for suspicious activity, and report anything that seems out of the ordinary immediately. An arrest of two suspects in burglaries last weekend was aided by calls made by alert neighbors. Please review and continue to deploy these safety strategies:

• Lock your doors and windows. The vast majority of recent burglaries are the result of criminals entering through open windows and unlocked doors. 
• Always secure your belongings and residence before you leave and before you go to sleep at night.
• Avoid leaving your keys out in the open.
• Mark/engrave all items of value and keep a record of them, including serial numbers.
• Don’t leave credit cards, blank checks or other valuables readily accessible; these can be taken and used by a thief before you know they are gone.
• Make your house look occupied; buy a timer that automatically turns on interior and exterior lights at a predetermined time, or when there is motion.
• Ensure your outdoor lighting is working and sufficiently bright, and trim shrubs and tree branches that obscure lighting around entrances. 
• Lock sliding glass doors and place a wooden dowel or metal bar in the track of the door.
• Do not leave any valuable items near residence windows or visible in your car. 
• Take pictures of anything valuable, install tracking software, if possible, and document the serial numbers of all electronic devices.

If you observe anything suspicious on campus, please call DPS at 315.443.2224 or use the Orange Safe app. To report off-campus crime, call the Syracuse Police Department at 315.442.5111. In an emergency, dial 911.

We want everyone to have a safe, restful and enjoyable weekend. Please continue to use caution and remain aware of your surroundings. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact DPS. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to all members of our community.

Sincerely, 

Craig A. Stone
Associate Vice President and Chief
Department of Public Safety

Dear Campus Community Members:

I am writing this afternoon to address the recent burglaries that have occurred in adjacent neighborhoods in recent weeks, and to provide an update on our efforts to prevent these crimes. 

This past weekend, the Syracuse Police Department and the Department of Public Safety responded to a report of a burglary in the 800 block of Ostrom Avenue. A resident observed individuals peering into the window of a nearby house and quickly alerted law enforcement. Moments later, SPD and DPS officers responded to the scene. The suspects took off on foot. After a quick chase, the suspects were arrested. During the chase, two handguns were recovered. 

These arrests were made possible thanks to the quick thinking and vigilance of a member of our community. I cannot stress enough the importance of being aware of our surroundings and alerting law enforcement to suspicious activity. This kind of action can directly lead to the prevention of crime and the apprehension of criminals. 

Also, over the weekend, SPD and DPS responded to a series of non-forced entry burglary and attempted burglary calls, including on Comstock Avenue, Lambreth Lane, Lancaster Avenue and Madison Street. In two of these incidents, several items were taken, including car keys, which resulted in two vehicles being stolen. 

To deter this kind of criminal behavior, DPS and SPD are taking a number of actions. These include adding patrols and working to be as visible as possible in these areas. At the same time, we ask that you remain vigilant and alert for suspicious activity. 

I want to remind you of important actions you can take to protect yourself and your property:

• Lock your doors and windows. The vast majority of these crimes are the result of criminals entering through open windows and unlocked doors. Always secure your belongings and residence before you leave and before you go to sleep at night.
• Avoid leaving your keys out in the open.
• Mark/engrave all items of value and keep a record of them, including serial numbers.
• Not to leave credit cards, blank checks, or other valuables readily accessible; these can be taken and used by a thief before you know they are gone.
• Make your house look occupied; buy a timer that automatically turns on interior and exterior lights at a predetermined time, or when there is motion.
• Ensure your outdoor lighting is working and sufficiently bright.
• Lock sliding glass doors and place a wooden dowel or metal bar in the track of the door.
• Do not leave any valuable items near windows. 
• Take pictures of anything valuable, install tracking software, if possible, and document the serial numbers of all electronic devices.

If you observe anything suspicious, for on-campus, please call DPS at 315.443.2224 or use the Orange Safe app, or for off-campus, call the Syracuse Police Department at 315.442.5111.

Please take a moment to review the aforementioned guidance, and please program the phone numbers I’ve provided into your phone. Finally, as always, if you see something suspicious, please let us know. 

Our community’s safety is our main focus. We will continue to take action to ensure our community members are and feel safe when in our campus community.

Sincerely,
DPS Chief Craig Stone