Safety and Crime Alerts

Archives for August 2024

SPD and Campus Safety respond to an altercation at a fraternity

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Early Sunday morning, August 25, 2024, a group of non-affiliated individuals stopped by the Sigma Pi fraternity. A disturbance broke out and a non-affiliated male brandished a handgun. A fistfight occured, but no shots were fired and no serious injuries were reported.

The group fled the scene before police arrived. Springfield Police later stopped the vehicle and one person involved in the fight was verbally banned from campus. The individual brandishing the handgun was not in the vehicle at that time. The Springfield Police Department has logged the case as an unlawful use of a weapon and simple assault.

E-Scooter Theft Alert: How to Keep Your Ride Safe

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What’s happening?

In the past week, we have received five reports of e-scooter thefts on campus. These thefts occurred at different bike racks and times, but they all have one thing in common: the scooters were left unlocked, secured with a weak lock, or improperly secured.

E-scooters are becoming more popular among students as a convenient and eco-friendly way to get around campus. However, they are also attractive targets for thieves who can easily sell them or use them for their own purposes.

How to prevent theft?

The best way to prevent your e-scooter from being stolen is to lock it properly whenever you park it. Here are some tips on how to do that:

  • Use a U-lock, not a cable lock. Cable locks can be easily cut with bolt cutters or other tools. U-locks are much harder to break and deter most thieves.
  • Lock your e-scooter to a sturdy bike rack, a fence, or a pole. Make sure the object cannot be lifted, cut, or removed.
  • Lock your e-scooter or bike through the frame, not the wheel. If you lock the wheel only, a thief can remove the wheel and take the rest of the scooter or bike.
  • Lock your e-scooter in a visible, well-lit area where there are people around. Avoid dark, isolated places where thieves can work undisturbed.

How to register your e-scooter?

Another way to protect your e-scooter is to register it with Campus Safety. This will help us identify and recover your scooter in case it is stolen or lost. Registration is free and easy; stop by the Transportation office located at 700 E. Elm to register.

To register your e-scooter, you will need the following information:

  • The make, model, and color of your e-scooter
  • The serial number of your e-scooter (usually found on the bottom or the side of the scooter)
  • A photo of your e-scooter
  • Your name, M#, email, and phone number

Once you register your e-scooter, you will receive a sticker with a unique code that you can attach to your scooter. This will help us verify that the scooter belongs to you and contact you if we find it.

What to do if your e-scooter is stolen?

If your e-scooter is stolen, you should report it to Campus Safety as soon as possible. You can call us at (417) 836-5509 or visit us at 700 E. Elm St. You will need to provide us with the following information:

  • The date, time, and location of the theft
  • A description of your e-scooter and its lock
  • The registration code and sticker of your e-scooter (if you have registered it)
  • Any other details or witnesses that may help us investigate the theft

We will file a report and try to locate and recover your e-scooter. We will also notify you if we have any updates or need more information from you.

Stay safe and ride smart.

We hope that this blog post has helped you understand the risks and precautions of e-scooter thefts on campus. We want you to enjoy your e-scooter and use it safely and responsibly. By following these tips, you can reduce the chances of losing your ride and help us keep our campus safe and secure.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at any time. We are here to serve and protect you.