The start of the fall semester coincides with the return of over 30,000 students and faculty to UTD’s sprawling campus, including many first-time Comets. Safety measures at UTD, largely managed by UTDPD, have been set in place to help keep Comets comfortable and secure if they ever run into problems during the upcoming academic year. 

UTDPD said in a flyer titled “Scams that Target Students” that students often fall victim to scams through text, phone call and email. These scams can involve individuals claiming to be the government, a bank institution, UTD administration or the financial aid office urging the student to send money, share sensitive information such as passwords or legal information or otherwise compromise themselves. UTDPD said that individuals who receive these kinds of messages should contact the police department at 972-883-2222 and explain their situation. 

UTDPD, in a flyer titled “Safety Tips for Our Friends and Students of UT Dallas Around the Apt and Around Campus,” recommends that you lock your doors and windows whether you live on or off campus. Property can be stolen very quickly, even if a door is only left unlocked for a couple of minutes. UTDPD also recommends Comets get to know their neighbors — the more eyes looking out for one another’s wellbeing and property, the more protected the area will be. David Spigelmyer, crime prevention specialist and police officer with UTDPD, said if a student is using a bike or electric scooter, they should purchase a metal U-lock as opposed to a cable lock to secure their property. “It only takes seconds for someone to use bolt cutters and steal [your] ride,” Spigelmyer said.  

UTDPD provides free escorts on campus 24/7, which Spigelmyer suggests all students should take advantage of. To use this service, all a student needs to do is call UTDPD’s number and an officer will walk with or provide a ride for the student to where they need to go on campus. 

Spigelmyer said a major deterrent to crime is active awareness of one’s surroundings. Every day, he sees students, staff and faculty on campus walking around with their heads down staring at their phones.

“I could be sitting on the sidewalk, in my golf cart, not moving, and I will have students walk into me,” Spigelmyer said. “We have had students get injured on campus, walking into things or tripping because they are on their phones.”  

Spigelmyer said if individuals are not paying attention on campus, it translates to their behavior off campus, and criminals are looking for easy targets. Spigelmyer said that unless someone is holding on tightly to their phone, it can easily be taken right out of the hands of its owner, so it is better to put the phone somewhere secure until reaching one’s destination. 

“Students and staff are too trusting with their property,” Spigelmyer said. 

  Another avenue for property theft is unattended bags and personal items. Spigelmyer said he carries around cards that say, “If I were a ‘Crooked Comet’ I could have stolen your property!” 

Spigelmyer carries these cards around because he has witnessed many students leave their bags or other property unattended at a table and walk away to buy food or use the restroom. He leaves the cards with their unattended items so students can realize their belongings could have been stolen and learn to always keep their belongings with them. 

Spigelmyer said in case of an emergency, students can familiarize themselves with what steps to take with the “Run, Hide, Fight” training video on UTDPD’s website, which explains what individuals should do in different emergency scenarios. UTDPD also provides a course called Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events, which, according to UTDPD’s website, teaches civilians what to do in an active shooter or other life-threating incidents. UTDPD also provides a free monthly self-defense course called RAD, which stands for rape, aggression, defense classes. Comets can find more information on the UTDPD website.  

Spigelmyer said if a Comet sees anything suspicious or concerning, they should call UTDPD and explain what they witnessed. If a Comet needs to make a report, they can call UTDPD to do so. The police department will follow up with the individual who filed the report and let them know when their case is processed and any further developments. 

Spigelmyer said he recommends anyone who owns pepper spray to familiarize themselves with how it works, so they may utilize it safely if needed. Spigelmyer also said he highly recommends individuals use the whistles the UTDPD provides. The whistles, provided by Spigelmyer to any student emailing to ask for one, alert nearby individuals of an unsafe situation occurring.  

Under the 1990 Clery Act, UTD is required to report crimes that occur on campus and in the surrounding community. Comets can view the record of on-campus crimes on the crime log maintained by UTDPD. The Mercury publishes regular crime blotters in its print editions to document recent crimes and the location where they occurred.