Crime Alert – Downtown Campus Parking Lot

On April 15, 2016 the San Antonio Police Department received a report of a robbery that occurred at the UTSA Downtown Campus in parking lot D-2. The robbery occurred the previous day on Thursday, April 14, 2016 at 3:00pm. The unaffiliated victim reported he was walking through lot D-2 when he was confronted by 3 Hispanic males who took his wallet, cell phone, wrist watch, and a baseball cap. The suspects all appeared to be about 30 years old. One of the suspects told the victim he had a gun as he gestured toward his waistline. The victim did not see a gun and the victim was not injured.

If you have any information that might be helpful in this investigation, please contact UTSA Police at:  (210) 458-4242; in person at the Bosque Building 1.100; or anonymously through “Silent Witness,” at http://utsa.edu/utsapd/forms/witness.cfm

This message is a reminder for students to please be attentive and aware of your surroundings in parking lots.  Please read the below general precautions to help ensure your safety and security.

In the event a robbery suspect confronts you:

  1. Try not to take any action that could jeopardize your personal safety or the safety of others.
  2. Remain calm.
  3. Carefully observe the physical characteristics of the robber.
  4. Be a good witness. Note as much detail about the suspect(s) as possible.
  5. If you are threatened with imminent physical harm and have no other choice – defend yourself.

After the robbery:

  1. When it is safe, notify the police by calling 911.
  2. Protect the scene of the crime. Do not touch anything! You might destroy evidence.
  3. Ask all witnesses to stay until law enforcement arrives. Write down all suspect information immediately and do not discuss the robbery with anyone until questioned by the police.

We strongly believe that awareness and personal responsibility for your safety and security are the most effective crime fighting tools.  Please help us work together with our community to reduce and eliminate crime.  Please notify UTSA PD immediately if you know of any suspects involved in any of the above crimes or to report any suspicious activity at (210) 458-4911.

Additional Safety Tips:

  1. BE CAREFUL WHEN WALKING TO YOUR CAR – Check the pathway to your car to ensure it’s safe. Make sure you have your keys in hand ready to open your car. Before you enter your car, check the passenger compartment to ensure it’s safe to enter. You may call the UTSA Police to request a safety escort.
  2. REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY – Criminals do not want to be seen or heard. They rarely commit crime in front of police officers. We rely on the community to report suspicious activity. We would much rather respond and not be needed than to not be called when a crime could have been prevented or stopped. Trust your instincts; if something does not feel right, it probably isn’t.
  3. BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS – Avoid going to secluded parking lots or areas of the campus alone. You may call the UTSA Police to request a safety escort.
  4. PROGRAM THE CAMPUS POLICE NUMBER INTO YOUR PHONE – Within the campus community our police department can respond to emergencies much faster than local law enforcement – Call (210) 458-4911.
  5. DOWNLOAD THE UTSA SMARTPHONE APP – Download the UTSA app to your smartphone and use the “Emergency” tab to contact UTSA Police.