Caltech Security Bulletin:  Suspicious Person/Attempted Bicycle Theft at Blacker House

On Friday, March 21, at approximately 9 p.m., a student reported that an adult male, possibly Hispanic, wearing a navy button-down shirt and blue jeans, was in the courtyard of Blacker House. The male subject held a bicycle and was carrying a drawstring backpack. When the student approached the subject and asked the person what they were doing, the subject dropped the bicycle and backpack on the ground and spoke to the student threateningly before fleeing the residence. Caltech Security officers responded to the scene and checked the area but were unable to locate the subject.

There have been similar incidents over the past four weeks in or near campus residence halls:

• Friday, February 21, at 12:30 a.m.: A bicycle was stolen from Dabney House; the subject was described as a Black male, wearing a Yankee's baseball hat.
• Monday, February 24, 5:40 p.m.: An unknown person attempted to gain entry to Ricketts House; the subject was described as a Black male, wearing a Yankee's baseball hat.
• Tuesday, February 25, between 12 a.m. and 10 a.m.: An unlocked bicycle was reported stolen from Blacker House courtyard; no known subject.
• Tuesday, February 25, 1:25 p.m.: An unknown person was reported "tailgating", closely following another individual to try and gain access to Ricketts House courtyard; the subject, described as a Black male, bald, was reported to have left campus.
• Friday, February 28, at 1:54 a.m.: An unknown person was found in the Bechtel Residence courtyard and cited by Pasadena Police for trespassing; the subject was described as a Hispanic male wearing a Yankee's baseball hat.
• Saturday, March 15, at 6:05 p.m.: An unknown person was reported tailgating to enter Avery Residence Hall; the subject was described as a Black male with long black curly hair.
• Monday, March 17, between 12 p.m. and 3:55 p.m.: An unlocked bike was reported stolen from Blacker House; no known subject.

Caltech Security continues to work with the Pasadena Police Department to identify and arrest individuals who trespass or engage in theft on campus. The descriptions of the potential subjects are limited.

Caltech Security has increased both foot and vehicle patrols around the residence halls and across campus grounds.

As a community, we share the responsibility of securing property and doors and reporting suspicious activity. Theft is a crime of opportunity. We encourage all members of the community to take all necessary precautions to protect your property to mitigate the risk of theft. We ask all members of the community to take the following precautions to safeguard property:

When you leave your room or office, even for a moment, always keep your doors and windows locked. Do not prop open or disengage the locking system on the door or windows.

• Never leave your purse, wallet, book bag, laptop, cell phone, earbuds, or other property unattended, even for a moment, in a public setting. If you must leave your property, leave it with someone you know, not a person studying or working in the area. Before you walk away from your property, remember: "Stop, think, and secure."
• Never allow anyone you do not know to enter a locked building when you're entering or exiting. Do not let people "piggyback" or "tailgate" with you. If someone you don't recognize does enter an area that is not open to the public, call Caltech Security at 626-395-5000 immediately. Do not confront them or ignore them.
• Do not hang your pocketbook or bag over the back of your chair while you're in a dining establishment or other public place. Do not place your pocketbook or bag under the table and out of sight.
• Keep an updated list of all personal property that has serial numbers, especially your personal electronics and bicycles. Please note the MAC addresses on any technology that has access to the internet. This information may help detectives with their investigation.
• Download the "Find my iPhone" app (works for Mac laptops as well).
• Register your bicycle with Caltech Security's Bicycle Registration Form
• When locking your bicycle, use a steel "U" lock rather than a cable lock. Lock the frame and tire together to a stationary object. If the bike has an easily removable seat, we recommend you remove the seat and take it with you.

If you are the victim of a theft, report it immediately to Caltech Security at 626-395-5000. Caltech Security is available 24 hours a day. No crime is too small to report to us.