Campus Security & Public Safety

A Gonzaga student reported that on April 26 around 12:30 AM while walking alone he was approached by two men who demanded his money.  The student complied and gave them his money and the two men fled on foot eastbound on Sharp.  No weapon was seen or inferred.  The two men were described as white, early twenties, around 6’2”, thin to medium build, wearing black pants and black hoodies with black bandanas covering their faces.  The student contacted the Gonzaga Security and Spokane Police Department at the time of the incident.  The two men were not located. 

 Gonzaga community members are reminded of the following safety tips:

 If you have to walk, do so in groups especially after dark. Try to use well-lit, busy routes. Be aware of your surroundings.

• Utilize Saferide if you need a ride back to your residence from an off-campus location: call 568-8000.
• Utilize Security escorts to travel across campus: 313-2222.
• Report suspicious persons or circumstances immediately to GU Security (313-2222) or SPD (911).
• Once you are in safe place, report all crimes immediately to police at 911 and GU Security at 313-2222.

Every year about this time, we receive reports of individuals soliciting magazine sales at residence halls on campus, and at residences in the surrounding neighborhood. In the past, these individuals have sometimes gained access to residence halls and apartments by “tailgating” behind a student who is entering. These individuals DO NOT have permission to enter Gonzaga residences, and/or solicit on the Gonzaga campus. If you see them anywhere on campus, please contact GU Security immediately at 313-2222.

An important reminder: you should NEVER allow access to your residence hall to anyone who is not a resident, an authorized staff member (who should be able to provide GU identification) or accompanied by a resident or authorized staff member.

A recent incident at Seattle University’s law school had some members of a class a bit shaken up: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Belligerent-intruder-barges-into-Seattle-University-law-class-195806601.html

What would you do in a similar situation? Gonzaga Security recommends these basic steps to protect yourself and others:

• Stay calm. Part of staying calm is envisioning and planning – in advance – what you would do in a situation like this.
• Get to a safe place. If you can’t get to a safe place, be prepared to defend yourself until help arrives.
• Call 911; and then campus security at 509-313-2222. Be prepared to provide detailed information to the dispatcher.

A response time of 1-2 minutes by campus security is not unusual. We’ll do our best to respond quickly, but safely. In a serious incident on campus, law enforcement is usually on scene in 3-5 minutes.

For more information on the steps to take when you are confronted with a dangerous or potentially dangerous situation, check out Gonzaga’s Emergency Guidelines   and active shooter information.

Gonzaga Security also offers facilitated training sessions tailored to specific workplace and academic settings. For more information, contact  Community Education at 509-313-3996.

Houses

A student vehicle was broken into at 5:23 AM this morning at Kennedy Apartments. Suspects used the same routine as yesterday morning and last month at Sinto Apartments. One of the suspects checks vehicles in the lot for “incentives” (in this case, two Ipods and a stereo with faceplate). He returns to his vehicle and they park in a space near the target vehicle. One of the suspects then breaks into the target vehicle.

In the vast majority of vehicle prowls, the thief looks for valuable items first, then breaks in. They rarely break in and then look for items. The key is taking a few seconds to remove valuable items from view. If you can’t take them inside with you, at least conceal items in the glove box, trunk, or under a seat. Don’t give the thief a reason to target your vehicle.

The vehicle of interest is a silver or light gray 1996-1999 Ford Taurus with minor body damage on the left side. it has a distinctive oval shaped rear window. If you see this vehicle on or near campus, please contact Campus Security immediately at 509-313-2222.

A student reported that she saw an individual wearing a hooded sweatshirt looking in her ground floor window at about 10:50 PM last night. Gonzaga Security checked the area but was unable to locate the subject. No other description was available.

As a reminder, please keep all drapes closed at night and especially in ground level residences.

On January 24th at 8:05 PM, a white male subject, working with another subject in an older model dark-colored 4-door sedan, broke into a vehicle in the parking lot of the Sinto Apartments. Prior to breaking into the vehicle, the subject used a flashlight to check the contents of several vehicles in the parking lot. We believe this vehicle was targeted because it had a ipod charger in view in in the console.

Parking prohibited on Sharp Avenue!

More info here: http://www.spokanecity.org/services/articles/?ArticleID=2935

Check out Campo’s holiday break security tips & some great winter travel tips & links at http://www.gonzaga.edu/Campus-Resources/Offices-and-Services-A-Z/MarketingandCommunications/News-Services/EmergencyPreparedness/holiday-security-tips.asp

This subject is a person of interest in a bike theft last week at Coughlin Hall. It appears the bike was locked to the rack by a front fork, and the subject removed the front tire to free the bike. After loading the bike, the subject left in the vehicle shown in the picture gallery. If you see him or the vehicle on or near campus, please call Campus Security immediately at 509-313-2222.

On October 30th at about 2:00 AM, this subject took a moped from the garage at Coughlin. When contacted by campus security near the 900 block of North Columbus, he abandoned the moped and fled. Prior to taking the moped he was observed on camera “inspecting” bikes on the bike rack at Coughlin. It is believed the subject likely lives somewhere in the neighborhood and may have been involved in earlier neighborhood prowlings .  If you see him on or near campus, please contact Campus Security at 313-2222.

Thanks to some attentive Gonzaga students who quickly notified Spokane Police and Campus Security, two separate subjects were contacted, identified, and trespassed from the area. Residents in the 900 block of East Augusta called at about 9:30 PM to report a suspicious person in the backyard of their residence. SPD and Campus Security quickly contacted a person matching his description in the 900 block of East Indiana. Then, at about 10:00 PM, residents in 1000 block of East Sinto called to report a suspicious person in the backyard of their residence. SPD and Campus Security searched the area, but did not find the subject. The residents called again at 11:30 PM to report the same subject was back. SPD and Campus Security again responded and located a person matching the description walking near the area. Both subjects were white males, 33 and 50 years of age, wearing dark clothing. At least one of the subjects had been previously arrested for burglary and trafficing stolen property.

Here are some easy steps you can take to help protect your property:

* Lock your doors and windows. Keep curtains & blinds closed.

* Make sure all of your exterior lights are working.

* Report all crimes immediately. 911.

* Report suspicious persons and activities immediately. 911.

If you encounter a subject in your residence, do not attempt to confront them. Go to a safe place and call 911.

This individual is a person of interest in a burglary at Duffs last night about 10:35 PM. If you see her on or near campus, please contact Campus Security at 313-2222.

September 3

A student reported her white Cruiser style bike taken from a railing at Dussault. A cable lock was cut.

September 4

A student reported his blue Schwinn mountain bike with chrome basket taken from north side of Dussault underneath the stair case. It had been secured with a cable lock.  

A student reported his black & white Schwinn Cruiser style bicycle taken from the rack just south of DeSmet.  The student reported he had used a U-lock to secure the bike, but the U-lock was found at the bike rack undamaged.

September 5

A student reported his Red Giant brand mountain bike missing from the rack at the south east corner of Kennedy Apts.  It had been secured with a cable lock. See previous “Vehicle of Interest” post.

A student reported her blue & white Schwinn mountain bike missing from a patio post just outside of her apartment at Dussault.  It had been secured with a cable lock.

A student reported her green mountain bike taken from a railing in front of her residence at 1420 N Astor. A cable lock was cut.

September 6

A student reported his black/white Access mountain bike stolen from the bike rack on the north side of the Martin Centre. It had been secured with a cable lock.

A student reported his gold Kona NUNU mountain bike taken from an exterior stairwell at Burch Apartments. It had been secured with a cable lock.

If you’re keeping score at home, that’s 7 cable locks on 8 stolen bikes this week. 13 out of  15 so far. Thieves love cable locks. U-locks for $25+tax at the Security Office at Welch Hall.

Please advise Campus Security at 313-2222 if you see this vehicle on or near campus.

A student reported that on Friday, August 31 at about 3:30 pm she was jogging on the Kardong bridge when a white male riding a mountain bike reached out and grabbed or touched her as he passed.  He was described as in his thirties wearing dark sweat pants and a light colored shirt.  The student reported that he hooked his finger between her arm and chest and rode away without stopping.  The student was advised to file a report with Spokane Police department, which she did.

Although the campus area and Centennial Trail are generally considered safe, particularly in the daylight hours, suspicious incidents and crime occur at any time and place.  The best way to stay safe is to be aware of your surroundings and exercise caution and common sense.  Be observant about what’s going on around you and walk with friends when possible.  Try to use busy, well-lit routes.

In addition, keep the following information in mind:

• Report  suspicious persons or circumstances immediately to GU Security (313-2222)  or SPD (911).
• Once  you are in safe place, report all crimes immediately to police at 911 and  GU Security at 313-2222.
• Utilize  Security escorts to travel across campus or to/from near-campus locations:  313-2222.
• Utilize Saferide or a taxi service if you need a ride back to your residence from  an off-campus location: call 568-8000.

Gonzaga students are statistically most at risk for serious crimes like assault and robbery when they venture off-campus on foot between 11:00 PM & 3:00 AM on weekend nights. Assaults – including some resulting in serious injury – may be committed by total strangers, or even fellow students. Alcohol consumption puts you at additional risk.  Make good decisions:

• If you have to walk, do so in groups especially after dark. Try to use well-lit, busy routes. Be aware of your surroundings. DO NOT confront persons who act or appear they may become threatening.
• Utilize Saferide or a taxi service if you need a ride back to your residence from an off-campus location: call 568-8000.
• Utilize Security escorts to travel across campus or to/from near-campus locations: 313-2222.
• Report suspicious persons or circumstances immediately to GU Security (313-2222) or SPD (911).
• Once you are in safe place, report all crimes immediately to police at 911 and GU Security at 313-2222. 

 August 29

A student reported his black Diamondback mountain bike taken from the bike rack between Desmet & Crosby. It had been secured with a small chain lock.

A student reported his Black/Yellow KHS brand Road Bicycle taken from the bike rack at Dooley.

August 28

A student reported an amplifier, IPod, checkbook radio face plate removed from his vehicle while it was parked in the 100 block of East Sharp. Access was gained via a broken window.

August 26

Visiting parents reported their Cannondale F7 and K2 mountain bikes taken from a bike rack at Kennedy. They had been secured with a cable lock.

August 25

A student reported his blue and black Fezzari mountain bicycle taken from a bike rack at Kennedy. The bike was secured with a cable lock. The bike was later recovered (see previous blog post).

A student reported her blue Novarra mountain bike taken from the bike rack north of the Madonna entry. It had been secured with a chain lock.

August 24

A student reported his green Trek mountain bike taken from the bike rack between Desmet & Crosby. It had been secured with a cable lock.

A student reported to campus security at 7:00 PM today that he had been confronted by 3 heavy-set males that he believed to be Hispanic while walking with a friend north of campus near Standard & Augusta at about 2:00 AM Saturday. The student could not recall the age of the three subjects. The student reported that the three subjects tried to pick a fight with him, that his friend was able to safely walk away, and that he was struck once in the back of the head as he later walked away. The student reported that he was not injured, and did not notify security or Spokane Police at the time of the incident. The student was encouraged to make a police report.

Gonzaga community members are reminded of the following safety tips:

• If you have to walk, do so in groups especially after dark. Try to use well-lit, busy routes. Be aware of your surroundings.
• Utilize Saferide or a  taxi service if you need a ride back to your residence from an off-campus location: call 568-8000.
• Utilize Security escorts to travel across campus or to/from near-campus locations: 313-2222.
• Report suspicious persons or circumstances immediately to GU Security (313-2222) or SPD (911).
• Once you are in safe place, report all crimes immediately to police at 911 and GU Security at 313-2222.

A student’s backpack was taken from Martin Center at 5:56 PM yesterday (August 22). If you see this person on or near the Gonzaga campus, security would like to know. Call 509-313-2222.

Also, this a good reminder not to leave valuables unnattended, even for a few seconds.