Christina VarvisA feis-tea encounter
UAPS patrols used their Brisk movement, as a female assaulted an officer with a can of iced tea.
Officers located a female who appeared to be intoxicated at 2:45 a.m. on Aug. 25. After they approached the female and made contact, the female did not respond. When officers took hold of the female, the suspect took a swing at the officer’s face with the iced tea that was in their hand.
The female was apprehended by Edmonton Police Services (EPS) and subsequently charged for assault. Turner said assault on UAPS officers is not that common, but still a “strange situation.”
“In most cases, there’s not too many assault on peace officers,” Turner said. “But we do have to be prepared and be vigilant in our contact with individuals.”
Swing and a miss
A staff member used his quick reflexes — twice — to avoid “glancing blows” in the Fine Arts Building.
The staff member noticed a male who appeared to not be affiliated with the University of Alberta in one of the classrooms in FAB on Sept. 2, and approached him to ask him to leave. After the staff member approached the male, he ducked a punch after the male became confrontational. The staff member pulled out his phone and took pictures of the male, with the intention of providing them to University of Alberta Protective Services (UAPS).
The suspect took another swipe at the staff member and ran off into the Campus Towers, but could not be located. The male is reportedly known to UAPS, and is described as a non-white, 40 years old, 190 lbs wearing a gray hoodie, black sweats and a gray backpack with red piping.
UAPS Acting Inspector Greg Turner said “kudos” to the staff member for reporting the incident, but recommends that those who find themselves in a similar situation disengage from confronting a suspect, and instead dialing 780-492-5050.
Balaclava burglars
Two masked men used power tools to breach the Scotiabank ATM machine in HUB and made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.
The investigation is still ongoing and there are currently no suspects, Turner said. HUB residents called UAPS to notify them of the incident, but it appears that the suspects a 10 minute head start before responders arrived.
Any information regarding the ATM theft can be sent to EPS at 780-423-4567 or by texting “crimestoppers” to 274637.
How to prevent Crimes of Opportunity
So you’re studying in the library and need to use the bathroom — it happens to everyone. But UAPS is advising students to take all valuables with them, even if its just for a few minutes to prevent theft. It may seem like common sense, but theft is one of the highest reported crimes on campus, University of Alberta Protective Services (UAPS) Acting Inspector Greg Turner said.
Lock your rooms
You know everybody on your floor in Lister Hall, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe to leave your door unlocked. Trespassing and break-ins are a common occurrence on campus, and they can be avoided by simply locking the door behind you, even if you’re just making a quick trip downstairs to grab a drink or down the hall to visit a floormate. It’s especially important considering students keep valuable belongings such as laptops, bikes or jewelry in their personal rooms.
Use a gym lock
Turner said students often use the lockers in the Van Vliet Centre when they go for a swim or a quick lift, but don’t bother putting a lock on the locker.
Theft from lockers occurs frequently, and can be prevented if students use a combination or padlock to stow away their belongings. But even if proper locks are used, avoid keeping valuables such as wallets or laptops in the lockers, as they can be cut by the right tools.
Don’t leave your belongings in the library unattended
Almost everyone is guilty of this. Take your laptop and other valuables with you to the bathroom if you need to go during one of your long study sessions. If you can’t, ask a friend or someone else in the vicinity to watch your belongings while you’re away. There are surveillance cameras around the libraries should theft occur, but it’s not always a guarantee you’ll get your precious Macbook or iPad back. The most surveillance cameras can do is provide UAPS with a suspect and description, Turner said. And even with that, it doesn’t mean that suspect will be caught and have your valuables returned.
Report any suspicious activity
Turner advises anyone to call UAPS if they see any suspicious activity, as it could lead to a suspect being caught or prevent future crimes of opportunity.
