Date/Time Occured
11/17/2021 at 3:00 AM
Specifics
Alert Regarding Recent Off-Campus Burglaries
Over the past eight weeks, WUPD has learned of several burglaries in off-campus apartments rented by WashU students. In almost all of these cases, access was initially gained through ground floor apartment windows or doors by standing on chairs or nearby objects. Most of the windows or doors were unlocked, including apartments on the upper levels of the buildings.
This morning, WUPD learned that three apartments in the same building in the 6600 block of Washington Ave. were broken into between 3:00a.m.-8:00 a.m. while the occupants were sleeping It appears that an unidentified person stood on a chair, removed a screen and forced the window open of an apartment on the ground floor of the building. Once inside the first apartment, the person entered two other apartments, which were unlocked. The person took several gaming consoles and a television. University City PD is investigating, with the assistance of WUPD.
WUPD sent Security Memos out to the Danforth Campus after receiving the prior reports and is now issuing a Crime Alert following this morning’s report to increase awareness of these incidents and remind our community members of additional safety precautions that can be taken. WUPD has increased its neighborhood security patrol services as well.
Precautions
• Report suspicious activity immediately to Police at 911 or go to the nearest emergency blue light telephone.
• Lock your door, even when you are at home.
• Lock the windows to your apartment when closed, even if you are home. Close and lock windows when you leave your apartment.
• If you have a sliding glass door, secure it further by placing a piece of wood in the track to prevent it from opening.
• Never prop open exterior doors or gates. If you see a door propped, close it.
• Don’t allow people you do not know to “tailgate” behind you into the building.
• When someone knocks at your door, don’t open it unless you know your visitor or you can confirm that the person should be in the buildlng.
• If you arrive home to find your door ajar, hear unusual sounds or believe your apartment has been broken into, DON’T GO IN! Go to a telephone and call the Police.
• When you are away from your residence, leave your interior lights on