Dear Campus Community,
The shift from winter to spring brings many new and familiar experiences to our community. From warmer temperatures, to spending more time outdoors, to celebrating exciting events and gatherings with friends.
As we enjoy these new changes, let’s make sure we are staying mindful of the basics of safety and security.
General Safety Reminders: Help reduce the number of thefts by not leaving property unattended or unsecured. Theft is our most reported crime, with items such as electronic devices, bikes/e-scooters, bags, etc. being stolen from areas that are publicly accessible.
When using a locker, always use a lock to properly secure your property while you are temporarily away.
Be Smart, Be Safe: It’s more than just a catchphrase. It’s how Terps look out not just for themselves but for one another. Be aware of your surroundings. Wearing headphones or earbuds in both ears can limit your ability to hear what’s happening around you, and looking at your phone while walking, biking, driving, or riding an e-scooter distracts you from the task at hand.
Lock It Up: If you have an e-scooter or bicycle, use a U-lock instead of a cable or chain lock. Cable and chain locks can be easily cut or manipulated—especially if loose—making it easy to remove the e-scooter or bike.
Find the most secure point on your e-scooter to run your lock through. This could be through the folding mechanism on your e-scooter. Avoid using the handlebars or through the wheels or around weak points on your e-scooter.
Recognize the Signs of Scams: A scammer may contact you through various channels. They may claim to be from the IRS or a local police department claiming to have a warrant for your arrest. It might be someone you just met online, or on an app, and personal photos/videos were exchanged. No matter what the scam is, the reason is always the same-they are trying to get money from you by pressuring you to act fast. In general, scammers will use a fake accusation along with fear tactics to convince you to comply with their demands. Stop communicating with the scammer and call UMPD.
Connect with Us
There is no greater joy for us than being able to connect with our community at any one of our year-round community events. From Build a Terp to Trunk or Treat to Coffee with a Cop and more–we look forward to these moments with our community. As does Teddy the Terp! We hope to see you at our next Coffee with a Cop on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Stop by the Coffee Bar inside the Stamp Student Union between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. for a free cup of coffee or tea and get to know your team at UMPD.
Resources
If you see any suspicious activity/behavior, say something! Call UMPD immediately at 301-405-3333 or #3333 from a mobile phone (AT&T and Verizon Wireless) or 911. You can also use any of the 300 plus emergency blue lights phones or the UMD Guardian app.
Don’t ever think it is a bother to contact us for all kinds of assistance, including non-emergency. We are here for our community 24/7.
A safe campus is a shared responsibly and we all play a role in the safety and security of our community.
Stay Safe,
Chief David B. Mitchell
Chief of Police/ Director of Public Safety
University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742