Department of Public Safety | Blog

Welcome Back.

I want to take this opportunity to welcome all of you back and to send a special welcome to all the new students here at IIT for the 1st time.

Every Friday, Illinois Institute of Technology’s Public Safety Department (IITPSD) will publish all the reports that were taken for the week. This will give the IIT community an overview of the types of activity that has occurred, the type of crimes that are being reported, and will offer prevention tips to safeguard your personal belongings and yourself while on campus.

IITPSD encourages feedback and comments on your experience and interaction with our department and welcomes suggestions on how to improve and make your educational experience safer while on campus.

Good Luck and have a very productive semester.

At approximately midnight the night of Wednesday on July 27th an IIT Public Safety officer approached a man who was standing near a car in the VanderCook parking lot on Main Campus. Two more men then approached the officer from the direction of Morton Park and surrounded the officer. One of the three men then pulled a firearm and shot at the officer, who took cover behind one of the cars in the lot. The suspects immediately fled, the officer was unharmed and no additional shots were fired.

Chicago Police Department was notified and arrived on the scene. The bullet, which was lodged in one of the parked cars, was recovered and the incident is currently under police investigation.

The IIT Public Safety Department reminds the university community to be vigilant when on campus and to immediately report any suspicious activity and/or persons to Public Safety at 312-808-6363 or call 911 for the Chicago Police.

Public Safety encourages all members of the IIT community to take a common-sense approach when walking on or off IIT property by:

• Staying alert to your surroundings
• Keeping valuables out of view (GPS units, loose change, cell-phones, CDs, etc.)
• Contacting Public Safety for an escort if you feel uneasy about traveling alone

IIT Public Safety officers work day and night to keep our campus safe, and the active involvement of everyone in the IIT community strengthens campus safety.

Hello,

On Wednesday, July 20, 2011, an article was published on chicagonewsreport.com

http://www.chicagonewsreport.com/2011/07/cops-woman-attacked-sexually-assaulted.html

IITPSD has no information on the alleged incident and has not received any report of such incident occurring.  We verified in our database going back several months and have nothing on file. 

IITPSD has confirmed with the Chicago Police Department that they too have NO record of any such incident occurring. 

Because the lack of information and that no report was filed, it is difficult to validate the story.

The matter is currently being looked into by Marketing and Communication. 

Please understand that if this incident was valid, IITPSD would have taken the appropriate actions to notify the IIT community and would be cooperating fully with the Chicago Police Department.

Thank you/

Hello,

Well, another academic year in the books.

I want to wish all of you a safe summer break and I look for your return in the Fall.

Enjoy your well deserved time off.

Week 562011

Hello,

It was another uneventful week around campus.

IITPSD is starting to receive several Lost Property reports. 

We are finding that students are leaving their personal property unattended and when they return it is missing.

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to take your personal property with you wherever you go for how ever long you will be gone.

Have a great weekend.

Week 4292011

Week 4222011

Hello,

I apologize for not posting last Friday.  I was attending a conference presented by the FBI on ways to recognize, prevent and respond to campus violence.

We are starting to see an increase in thefts off campus involving IIT students.

This is a City wide problem that is making its way towards IIT.

The target is IPhones.

I sent a notice from the CTA regarding additional precautions you need to take when boarding public transportation.

Keep your phones and other electronic devices safely secured on your person and not in the open.

Thank you/

Week 4152011

Hello again,

A colleague of mine sent this important safety reminder (please click on the link).

There has been a rash of IPhone thefts throughout the City.

I continue to remind the IIT community to always be aware of your surroundings.

Protect yourself by safeguarding your personal electronics while utilizing CTA transportation.

Thank you/

CTA Safety.txt

Can you believe that Spring is here?

Judging from the temperatures you couldn’t tell.

IITPSD had a very uneventful week.

There were NO Incident Reports taken for two consecutive days.

IITPSD continues to remain diligent in our patrols and promotes a constant visible presence on campus.

Spring finals begin Monday, May 2, 2011 so as you begin to prepare for this intensive time, please contiue to be cognizant of your surroundings and your personal belongings.

Have a safe weekend.

Week 482011

Hello,

I apologize for not posting last week’s blog. 

I was out of the office all week.

A cursory check indicated that no major incidents occurred on campus.

Crime continues to remain low as with the outside temperatures.

As the semester draws to a close, I want to remind all of you that IITPSD offers escort services if you chose to study late on campus.

Please contact us for a request.

Please remain vigilant in your efforts to remain safe while traveling on and off campus.

Thank you/

 Week 3252011

Week 412011

Hello,

As suspected, Campus activity has been uneventful.

I attribute this to the reduced amount of students, Faculty and staff being on campus.

Let’s say goodbye to winter and welcome in Spring.

Talk to you next week.

Week 3182011