As a follow up to yesterday’s public safety notice, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) received an additional burglary report – this one at an off-campus residence on Harrison Street. Both DPS and the Syracuse Police Department (SPD) responded to the residence last night, Friday, August 29 around 9 p.m. The burglary likely occurred between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. The investigation determined that an unknown individual entered an unsecured off-campus residence and stole electronic items, along with personal belongings.
DPS and SPD are continuing to investigate this burglary, as well as the one that occurred yesterday morning on Redfield Place. If you know anything about either of these incidents, please contact the Syracuse Police Department at 315.442.5222 or the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224. If you would like to anonymously report NON-EMERGENCY information for DPS, you can use the Silent Witness tool or the Orange Safe app.
DPS and SPD have taken the following action to mitigate the risk of off campus burglaries and other illegal activity:
- University Area Crime-control Team (UACT): The UACT is a partnership between DPS and SPD that seeks to further enhance the safety and security of community members on campus and in designated areas closest to the University’s campus. Both DPS and SPD patrol areas in the campus area on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in cars from both departments.
- Orange Watch Patrols: DPS is actively patrolling zones in the off-campus neighborhoods.
- Neighborhood Safety Patrols: SPD will have additional safety patrols throughout the week while DPS increases their presence on Fridays and Saturdays.
These incidents are often crimes of opportunity, where individuals look for residences that are easily accessible. Offenders target locations with unlocked doors or windows. As a reminder, we strongly urge all campus community members to do the following to protect yourself and your belongings:
- Make sure all doors and windows are shut and locked when you leave – even it’s just for a few minutes. But also make sure you follow these steps when you’re inside your apartment, especially if you’ll be upstairs or sleeping.
- Place valuable items out of sight and preferably in locked areas. A laptop, a PS5, or an iPhone are easy targets for potential thieves.
- Do not leave vehicle keys in common areas of the residence where they can be taken if someone gains entry.
- Report all suspicious people or activities to DPS at 315.443.2224 or SPD at 911.
If you or someone you know has been affected by an incident on or near campus, please know that there are resources available to you. In addition, for your safety, please review these suggested safety strategies.
This public safety information is issued for your safety in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act.
