Theft is one of the most common crimes on college campuses everywhere, and ours is no exception.
Bicycles and packages are common targets for thieves, but there are a few ways you can avoid becoming a victim of theft.
In these thefts, many people have left their bikes unlocked or their packages unattended for days. The best way to avoid becoming a victim of theft is to secure your bike properly and protect your packages once they are delivered.
Bicycle Theft
Lock your bicycle up (the right way!)
The best way to prevent bike theft is by locking it up properly. At the very least, use a U-bolt style lock and secure your bike to a rack designed for bicycle storage. The preferred method is to use a U-bolt and chain lock together to secure the bicycle frame and front wheel to a bike rack. Using a chain lock alone is not sufficient, as they can be easily cut or broken.
Register your bicycle
If you are riding a bike on campus, you are required to register it. Doing so is for your benefit — if it’s ever lost or stolen, having your registration information on file makes it easier to get it back to you. Learn more and register your bike at bike.illinois.edu.
Project 529
Project 529 is the university’s bicycle registration program and helps protect your property.
Package Theft
Unfortunately, criminals know that college campuses are a prime target for package theft. Working together to protect our own and our neighbors’ packages is the only way to make our campus community a more difficult target for would-be thieves:
- Do not prop open doors, and do not hold secure doors open for strangers. Politely ask them to use their key instead.
- When ordering from Amazon, consider the option of having it delivered to a secure Amazon hub instead of your doorstep, especially if it’s a particularly valuable item.
- Do not have packages delivered to your residence hall, apartment or home while you are away for an extended period.
- Sign up for the carrier’s text message notifications so you know when a package has been delivered. Retrieve it promptly.
- Report suspicious activity to the police immediately. If you witness a package theft in progress, call 911 and be prepared to provide a description of the person involved.
Amazon, FedEx and UPS have locations on and around campus where students can ship their packages to be held for secure pickup.
Crime Map
The crime map is a visualization of the incidents reported in our Daily Crime Log. This map can be a helpful extra tool to showcase when and where crime occurs in the Campustown area.
If you witness a bicycle or package theft, immediately call 911. If the crime has already occurred, you can call the University of Illinois Police Department’s 24-hour non-emergency line at 217-333-1216, email us at police@illinois.edu or file your report online.