Dear UMBC Community, 

You have likely seen the recent notifications from UMBC police regarding motor vehicle thefts and attempted thefts on our campus. These incidents have taken place in parking garages, lots, and various streets and areas throughout the campus. It is deeply concerning that the perpetrators are targeting vehicles, particularly Hyundais and Kias, both during the day and at night. 

I want to reassure you that we are treating this criminal activity with the utmost seriousness. To be clear, the safety of our community is our highest priority, and you should know that we are taking immediate steps to prevent further thefts. 

Effective immediately, we have increased patrols of parking garages and lots as well as other parking spaces around campus, including around residence halls. Campus police officers will conduct hourly checks of these targeted areas in the afternoon, evening, and early morning hours. We have enlisted a private security company to provide us with additional vehicle patrols, enhancing our existing security measures.

We are also providing steering wheel locks free of charge at the UMBC Police Department for members of the campus community with university identification. Additionally, in the coming days, the university will deploy several mobile security cameras in and around parking areas to deter would-be thieves.

As always, we remind you to secure your vehicles by locking them and avoiding leaving valuables such as backpacks, purses, wallets, laptops and other electronics, and loose change inside. We also ask you to remain vigilant and attentive to your surroundings  and promptly report suspicious activity to UMBC Police.

Again, the safety and security of our campus community is my highest priority. Thank you for your part in helping us deter and prevent further incidents of theft. 

Sincerely,

President Valerie Sheares Ashby