October 17, 2023
Dear UChicago students,
This weekend, four armed robberies occurred near campus. According to reports, it appears as if the robberies were committed by the same perpetrators. Fortunately, no one was physically injured. The Chicago Police Department (CPD) is actively investigating, and the University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD) has increased patrols in the area.
In addition to sharing an update on the robberies (more details can be found on our crime log), we are writing to highlight information and resources that you can use to get timely information about off-campus safety, including crimes and patterns of crime in neighborhoods near the University. Especially for students and families who are new to UChicago, this is a good time to review safety measures and the ways in which we alert people to serious crimes that occur off-campus.
General information on campus safety, staying informed and related safety resources can be found at the Department of Safety and Security (DSS) website.
All students automatically receive Security Alerts for certain crimes that occur on campus, in accordance with federal law. Please visit the Department of Safety and Security website to learn more about the guidelines for Security Alerts. Parents and others who wish to sign up to receive Security Alerts can do so by visiting: https://lists.uchicago.edu/web/info/community-alerts/
In addition, we strongly encourage everyone to sign up for both types of opt-in safety alerts regarding off-campus crime. (Each of the recent four robberies were included in either the Crime Notice or Daily Crime Bulletin sent Saturday and today.)
Crime Notices – These notices are sent as needed on a timely basis for three types of serious off-campus crimes that have been reported to UCPD: homicides, shootings, and patterns of robberies. To sign up to receive Crime Notices, please visit: https://lists.uchicago.edu/web/info/ucpd-crime-notice
Crime Bulletin – This summary is sent once each weekday to inform interested community members about serious crimes that have been reported to UCPD. The Crime Bulletin summary encompasses more crimes than the timely Crime Notices, including homicides, criminal sexual assaults, robberies, aggravated batteries, and residential burglaries that have been classified as home invasions. To receive the daily Crime Bulletin, please visit: https://lists.uchicago.edu/web/info/ucpd-crime-bulletin
These channels are designed to be useful for anyone who wants to stay informed about crimes that occur off-campus. Crime Notices typically are sent quickly to help people guide their behavior, focusing on the most serious crimes; Crime Bulletins are sent each weekday morning and include information about a broader set of crimes.
Thank you for your support as we continue to collaborate with our neighbors and campus partners to build a safe and thriving community.
Eric M. Heath
Associate Vice President for Safety & Security
Michele Rasmussen
Dean of Students in the University