UB Police investigating recent incidents of harassment, public lewdness on North Campus

University Police are cautioning about two recent incidents of harassment and public lewdness that occurred in parking lots on the North Campus.

While no one was harmed in either case, University Police have increased their patrolling as a precaution in North Campus parking lots, particularly those along Augspurger Road, while the investigation is continuing and police search for a male suspect driving a vehicle described as a black Jeep Cherokee Laredo.

The most recent incident happened around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27, in the Jacobs A lot and the second at around 7:10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, in the Jacobs B lot. On Feb. 27, the driver of the Jeep verbally harassed a student walking in the Jacobs A lot. On Feb. 22, the driver of what is believed to be the same Jeep pulled up alongside an occupied vehicle in the Jacobs B lot, opened the door of the Jeep and exposed himself before driving away. The suspect is not believed to be affiliated with the university.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call UB Police at 716-645-2222.

UB Police urge members of the campus community to always be aware of their surroundings and to report any usual circumstances or suspicious persons to police immediately.

Need to know:

·        UB police have increased patrols around the North Campus, particularly in and around the parking lots, while they investigate.

·        The suspect is not believed to be affiliated with the university.

·        Both incidents happened in the morning around 7 a.m.

·        Student safety and wellbeing are the university’s highest priorities. UB deploys an emergency-notification system – via text message, email, and web applications – that provides information about potential health and safety risks 24/7.

·        UB’s campuses are very safe, with low incidence of crime. Amherst, the location of the North Campus, has consistently been ranked as one of the safest communities in the U.S.

·        UB’s Police department is made up of 63 highly trained members of the New York State University Police, who are well prepared to maintain safety on our campuses.

·        In recent years, UB has invested more than $5 million in security enhancements on its campuses, including new lighting, security cameras and emergency Blue Light phones.  There are about 1,000 security cameras across all three campuses.  These cameras are deployed in and around public spaces, bus stops, dormitories and buildings, classrooms, labs and other facilities.

·        Updates will be shared as they become available.

·        UB Police urge members of the campus community to always be aware of their surroundings and to report any usual circumstances or suspicious persons to police by calling 716-645-2222.