BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Indiana University Police Department is issuing a Public Safety Advisory, regarding two incidents that they said pose a risk to students and employees.
First, on Wednesday, IUPD reported that an unknown male in the 1400 block of David Baker Avenue was taking pictures of sorority applicants as they walked on the sidewalk.
According to IUPD, police could not identify the individual during the day, but successfully located him later in the evening. He has since been banned from all IU property for one year.
Following that, IUPD said the second incident occurred on Saturday around 7 p.m. Here, a black SUV with an IU sticker on the back slowly drove next to a female IU student, claiming he was with an IU ride service and providing rides home to students.
IUPD said this driver was a white male with short brown hair. He insisted the student get in the vehicle, and she refused. According to police, this vehicle was traveling southbound on Eagleson Avenue near 7th Street, then continued southbound toward 3rd Street.
Because of this, no IU ride sharing services will be available starting Monday, IUPD added.
In addition, IUPD provided a list of safety tips that students and faculty can follow to ensure their safety.
- Close and lock all doors and windows in your residence, room or office before leaving.
- Take keys with you at all times, even if you’re just leaving for a short period. Don’t lend keys to anyone you don’t know or trust, either.
- Always report suspicious behavior, even if you aren’t threatened directly. This can either be done via the blue light emergency phones located around IU’s campus or to IUPD directly.
- Let a trusted person know where you’re going and when you expect to be back.
- Be aware of your surroundings and try to avoid cellphone distractions (both audio and visual).
- Avoid walking alone, when possible.
- Take well-lit paths, especially at night, and avoid areas where assailants might be lurking.
- Avoid riding in vehicles until you can confirm they are official ride services (including IU buses and IU Ride). Verify drivers before entering, share a trip with a friend and sit in the backseat with a seatbelt on. “Trust your instincts—if something feels off, cancel the ride,” IUPD added.
For more safety tips, click this link.
