UMPD reports more than 70 electric scooter thefts since September 1st

University of Maryland officials are urging community members to be more vigilant after UMPD reported more than 70 thefts of electric scooters on campus since Sept. 1.

University of Maryland Police announced the latest theft figures in a campus-wide email on Oct. 19. The increase in electric scooter thefts stems from the vehicle’s growing popularity at this university, according to UMPD spokeswoman Lt. Rosanne Hoaas.

Electric scooters are portable, lightweight and easy to use, which makes them “appealing” to people looking to take advantage of users, Hoaas told The Diamondback.

June Cagan, a sophomore computer science major and Resident Life assistant, said she believes the thefts are due to micromobility owners not taking care of their vehicles, rather than the scooter’s portability.

“It’s sad because bike theft has also been a problem here for a while,” Cagan said.

The Oct. 19 email also detailed the use of surveillance cameras, outlined past solutions to thefts, and offered safety tips for e-scooter owners, such as locking scooters to bike racks, using padlocks U and lock in the safest part. of the scooter.

(Construction of the UMD Purple Line, two-way bike lanes lead to new safety measures)

UMPD’s Criminal Investigations Unit has identified and charged many offenders related to the thefts and created a website to show suspected e-scooters and the people who have been charged, according to the email.

The page was posted Oct. 19 and is being updated as new information is received, Hoaas said.

Christian Jackson, a journalism professor, said his scooter was stolen outside Cumberland Hall on Oct. 15. He discovered the theft while attending classes. Jackson initially thought he had lost his scooter, but found the lock still attached to the bike rack.

Later that day, Jackson went to this university’s Department of Transportation Services and filed a report with UMPD.

(UMD DOTS will host 10 events in October for the annual Safety Month)

After receiving a report, UMPD will send an officer to the scene of the theft or to the victim to gather more information about the situation, Hoaas said. That includes finding out the make and model of the scooter, the date and time the vehicle was last seen and when a student noticed the vehicle was missing, she added.

All 450 cameras owned by UMPD’s Security Operations Center are active and monitored at all times, Hoaas explained. The cameras can help identify locations on campus where theft has increased, according to the Oct. 19 email.

DOTS also requires the registration of micromobility vehicles to create a “property record” that can help owners file a missing vehicle report, DOTS wrote in a statement to The Diamondback.

GPS tracking for e-scooters has helped UMPD find stolen scooters, Hoaas said.

A spokesperson for Resident Life said in a statement to The Diamondback that department staff are also made aware of potential thefts and assist students in reporting incidents to UMPD. The department is also collaborating with UMPD on educational campaigns, according to the release.

Resident Life staff work in collaboration with UMPD, DOTS and other campus officials to “ensure systems and resources are in place to support resident safety and security,” the statement said.

Hoaas further encouraged community members to contact UMPD if they see suspicious activity, including people tampering with electric scooter locks.

“We really need the help of our community to solve these cases,” Hoaas said.