DPS News

A recent incident on campus is a reminder that one phone call can change the outcome of a situation entirely.

An SU student noticed something that did not feel right: an unknown male walking through a parking area, looking into vehicle windows and checking door handles. Rather than walk past, she contacted DPS.

Making that call was not automatic, she says. “Sometimes it can be difficult to discern whether a situation is serious enough to report to law enforcement or if it’s something that’s better left ignored. What I realized, though, is that reporting suspicious behavior isn’t just about whether I personally feel threatened — it’s also about looking out for the safety of those around me.”

That perspective made the difference. “At the time, I had safety measures in place to protect myself, but someone else may not have those same protections. By reporting something that seems out of the ordinary, I could help prevent a situation from escalating and potentially protect someone else.”

Officers responded, located the individual, and identified him as a non-SU affiliate. A records check revealed he had multiple active warrants. He was taken into custody and turned over to the Syracuse Police Department.

None of that happens without her making the call.

This is exactly what “see something, say something” looks like in practice. It does not require certainty. It does not require confrontation. It requires one person deciding that something feels off and picking up the phone.

If you see suspicious activity on campus — someone looking into vehicles, testing door handles, or lingering in a parking area without an obvious reason — contact DPS immediately at 315-443-2224.

Trust your instincts. DPS will handle the rest.

It takes less than 60 seconds to steal a car. In many cases, the thief did not even need to break in.

July is National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, and vehicle thefts have been on the rise in the neighborhoods surrounding campus. Whether you live on campus, commute, or park nearby, your vehicle could be a target. The good news: most thefts are preventable. Here is what you need to know.

What Thieves Are Looking For

Not all vehicle thefts are random. Some are crimes of pure opportunity: a car left unlocked, keys visible through a window, or an unattended vehicle left running. Others are highly targeted. Certain makes and models have known software vulnerabilities that allow thieves to start them with nothing more than a USB cable. Criminals actively scout neighborhoods for these models, and if there is no visible deterrent, the entire theft can take under 60 seconds.

The areas most affected are just outside campus: the North and East neighborhoods. Lighting is lower, foot traffic is reduced, and the chances of getting caught are much smaller. Many vehicle thefts in these areas are also a byproduct of residential burglaries, where a thief enters a home or apartment and takes car keys along with other property.

The Basics Still Matter Most

The overwhelming majority of vehicle thefts and break-ins happen because someone skipped a basic step. Before anything else:

• Lock your doors and roll your windows up completely, every time, even if you are stepping away for just a minute.
• Never leave your vehicle running unattended. Beyond being a theft risk, it is a traffic infraction in New York State, and victims in these situations often receive a ticket on top of losing their car.
• Do not leave anything visible in your vehicle. A backpack, a phone charger, or even loose change can be enough to prompt a break-in. Put everything in the trunk before you arrive at your destination.
• Radar detectors and dash cameras are being targeted. These devices are highly visible when mounted to your windshield or dashboard and are easy for a thief to spot from outside the vehicle. Remove them when you park and store them out of sight.
• Keep your keys secure at home. Do not leave them on a hook near the door or visible from a window. A burglar who spots keys will often take the car too.
• Never store your vehicle title or a spare key inside the car.

Level Up Your Protection

If you want to go beyond the basics, a few additional steps can make a significant difference:

• Use a visible steering wheel lock. A heavy-duty club-style lock signals to a thief that your car will take too much time and noise. Most will move on to an easier target.
• Own a keyless entry or push-button start vehicle? Store your key fobs in a Faraday pouch at home. Thieves use signal amplifiers outside residences to relay your fob’s signal to the car and drive it away without ever touching the keys.
• Consider a GPS tracker. It will not prevent a theft, but it dramatically improves the chance of recovery. Reporting a stolen vehicle within the first 24 hours with its make, model, color, plate, and VIN increases recovery odds by over 30 percent, so keep that information saved on your phone.

What DPS Is Doing

DPS works alongside the Syracuse Police Department through joint patrol programs targeting known auto-theft corridors around campus. Officers conduct regular audits of campus parking areas, and when a cluster of incidents is detected, DPS issues targeted Public Safety Notices with specific guidance for the affected area. Campus lots are also continuously assessed for lighting and camera coverage to reduce vulnerability.

That said, we cannot be everywhere at once. We need the community with us.

How to Help: Report What You See

If something feels off, trust your instincts and report it. Thieves often scout parking areas before acting. Watch for people slowly walking through lots looking into windows, testing door handles, or lingering near parked vehicles without reason.

On campus, contact DPS:

• Emergency or crime in progress: call 315-443-2224, dial #78 (#SU) from your cell, or dial 911.
• Orange Safe App: use the tip reporting feature to send photos, videos, or a text description directly to DPS dispatchers, anonymously if preferred.
• Non-emergency tips: submit through the Silent Witness tool at the DPS website.

Off campus, call 911 for emergencies or the Syracuse Police Department non-emergency line at 315-442-5111.

Do not worry about being wrong. We would much rather respond and find out everything is fine than miss the chance to stop a theft in progress.

Before the Year Starts

Take five minutes now to set yourself up:

• Download the Orange Safe app and make sure it is set up before you need it.
• Register your cell phone number in MySlice to receive Orange ALERT messages and Public Safety Notices.
• Save your vehicle’s make, model, color, plate number, and VIN in your phone.

A few small habits go a long way. Lock up, stay aware, and do not hesitate to reach out to DPS. We are here.