As the semester gets into full swing, here are some notable incidents that the University of Arizona Police Department has responded to since campus activity picked up earlier this month. This article is a product of the Daily Wildcat’s new UAPD partnership aimed at raising students’ awareness of crime trends on campus. Additional campus safety resources can be found in the Wildcat Safety Guide from the UA Office of Public Safety.
Theft On Campus
Between Jan. 3-4, the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity house was reportedly burglarized. There was no sign of forced entry to exterior entrances and the fraternity house has no security or surveillance cameras, according to UAPD reports.
A Louis Vuitton wallet containing $200 and an Apple AirTag were stolen from one victim. UAPD tracked the tag to an address on East Elm Street on Jan. 5 and conducted a knock and talk to gather information, but the residents of the property denied knowledge of the burglaries, with no evidence indicating that they had any involvement. According to police reports, the residents suggested that the thief may have wandered to the alley behind their house.
In total, 15 doors at the fraternity house were kicked in, with repairs estimated at $4,500, according to UAPD. Other stolen objects included a guitar, a speaker, a dive watch and a flashlight.
According to police reports, more missing items have likely been reported stolen since the fraternity members returned from winter break.
Between Jan. 6-8, and in a separate incident between Jan. 18-19, UAPD reported that UA Facilities Management vehicles were robbed, resulting in the theft of multiple tools and equipment. There were no leads in either incident, according to UAPD.
On Jan. 13, UAPD responded to an incident in the La Aldea graduate housing complex. According to police reports, 50 packages were reported missing from the residence hall’s mailing room. One package had been ripped open, but its contents remained.
According to UAPD, the room is secured through CatCard access, and only 15 individuals had access to the room. There were no signs of forced entry. According to police reports, the case has been forwarded to detectives to determine potential suspects through access control.
Vandalism
On Jan. 10, UAPD responded to a male with no campus affiliation setting fire to bushes near the Environmental and Natural Resources 2 building. The man then moved towards the Sixth Street Parking Garage and set another fire to some Yucca plants in the area. The Tucson Fire Department extinguished both fires, and the only damage was to the Yucca plants. The suspect was arrested for two counts of reckless burning.
Instagram Scam
On Jan. 17, UAPD assisted a student who fell victim to an Instagram scam. The student received a follow request on the app from an unfamiliar account using the alias “Emily Margaret.” The account offered the student $400 in exchange for letting the user use one of the student’s photos. The student agreed, receiving $400 as promised.
According to police reports, the student then received a text from an unknown sender demanding that the student return the $400 along with an additional $200. Along with this demand, the sender attached graphic footage of an unknown female being shot and two photos of an unknown male victim of decapitation.
According to UAPD, the next message read, “Now do you want to LIVE or DIE? If I don’t get your reply immediately I will commence with the hit.”
The student returned the $400 but did not send an additional $200. The student stopped corresponding with the user and everything was deleted from Instagram. The Joint Terrorism Task Forces was made aware of the scam and the student was provided with additional resources.
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