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