Campus Crime ALERT - November 10, 2008

Campus Crime ALERT – November 10, 2008

On Monday, November 10, 2008 the University of Oregon’s Department of Public Safety (UODPS) received a report from a female student who indicated she had been the victim of an attempted abduction that took place at or about 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 9, 2008 near the Pioneer Cemetery along University Street.
The complainant, who was walking alone at the time of the attack, reported that the suspect grabbed her and attempted to physically drag her into the cemetery. She describes her attacker as a white male, 30-40 years of age, approximately 6’ in height wearing a tan coat and blue baseball cap.
During the incident the student reportedly elbowed the perpetrator in the nose which caused him to release her. The suspect made a second attempt to gain physical control of the complainant by grabbing her hair as she fled the scene.
As of this report, the suspect remains at-large. UODPS and the Eugene Police Department (EPD) are actively collaborating on the investigation. Individuals with information regarding this incident are encouraged to contact the University of Oregon’s Department of Public Safety at (541) 346-5444 or the Eugene Police Department at (541) 682-5211.

Safety Tips

Community members are encouraged to consider the following personal safety tips.

1. Walk in well-lit areas that are well-traveled and usually occupied by others.
2. Walk with others at night or call for campus escort service at (541) 346-5444.
3. Always be alert and aware of your surroundings. Remember that fatigue, alcohol, drugs and headphones can reduce your awareness of your environment. Keep your eyes and ears open.
4. Be aware of safe locations you can go to in an emergency such as open businesses, police and fire stations, hospitals and restaurants, as well as emergency phone locations.
5. Change your travel routine, planning safe havens along each route so you are prepared in the event of an attack.
6. Trust your instincts and avoid people and areas that make you feel uneasy.
7. Walk with confidence and assertion, wearing comfortable clothes so you can run in if necessary.
8. Walk facing traffic to make it harder for someone to follow you or grab you.
9. Make noise if attacked, to scare off your attacker and alert others for assistance.
10. Carry a fully charged cell phone with emergency numbers pre-programmed into the device.

Report any suspicious activity on or around campus to the University of Oregon Department of Public Safety immediately at (541) 346-6666.