The UNM Police Department and the Global Education Office have advised students to follow the guidelines issued by the University to avoid thefts and other scams.
In Fall 2014, the number of bike thefts increased on campus and a number of international students lost money in a telephone scam, according to UNMPD and GEO officials. The Daily Lobo also reported large numbers of auto burglaries on and around campus during the semester, as well as a lack of security cameras in and around parking lots and structures.
In 2014 UNMPD had 204 bicycle theft reports, compared to 173 in 2013, said Lt. Tim Stump, UNMPD’s public information officer.
“We believe the spike is due to the online reporting made available through police.unm.edu implemented in August of 2013,” Stump said.
Stump said that in order to avoid bike thefts students should utilize a U-Lock type of lock and ensure they have secured their bikes properly.
“Although U-lock type locks can be defeated, they seem to be the best defense,” he said.
Stump also recommended students register their bikes with UNMPD, he said.
“They can go on to the website at police.unm.edu to start the process,” he said.
He also advised students to make sure their cars are locked and secured, and their valuables are not left in their vehicles, he said.
UNMPD also recommended that students avoid traveling alone at night and be aware of their surroundings, he said. Students should also know where the blue emergency phone poles are located around campus, and stay alert while traveling, he said.
Stump recommends that every student program UNMPD’s phone number — 505-277-2241 — into their cell phones, and call any time they need help.
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“Use our escort service, especially in the evening when traveling alone is the only option,” he advised.
In addition to property crime, Stump said that students should call UNMPD if they are being harassed, stalked or threatened with violence.
“Students should report harassment immediately,” Stump said. “The quicker we document and identify someone harassing, stalking or bullying another student, the quicker we can take action toward that individual and get assistance to the victim.”
UNMPD has a mapping feature available on its website, with which students can see the areas on campus where the concentration of crime is higher. Using keywords, students can search specific types of crimes and see where they occurred on campus, Stump said.
“If the proper measures are used as mentioned above, we could see a reduction in thefts,” Stump said.
UNMPD and the Global Education Office are also trying to create awareness among students to help them avoid scams.
Last semester the Daily Lobo reported that unknown individuals had contacted international students by phone pretending to be the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. The scammers told the students that they needed to pay money immediately to avoid being deported.
“Reports say that the individuals pretending to be USCIS have passport numbers, birth dates and names that are accurate. Please do not pay these individuals or provide them any of your personal information,” said Linda Melville, associate director at the Global Education Office.
If students receive this type of call, they should report it immediately to iadvisor@unm.edu, she said.
“If you can report the number that it is coming from, time of the call, or any other details, we would greatly appreciate it,” she said.
Melville said that no U.S. government agency will ever require a person to wire money immediately to any entity or office.
She said the agencies would also never require students to provide their social security numbers over the phone.
“These agencies must follow due process and cannot require you to do anything like this without prior contact in person,” Melville said.
Sayyed Shah is the assistant news editor at the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at assistant-news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @mianfawadshah.
