In a new crime alert sent by mass email late today (March 18), campus police say a suspect in the theft of a residence hall key card may have committed trespass in the same residence hall in the Tercero housing area about 5½ hours later.

The new crime alert includes two photos, caught by surveillance camera. “We are asking for your assistance in identifying the suspect,” Police Chief Matt Carmichael said. People with information are asked to call the Police Department, (530) 752-1727.

The key card theft occurred at about 12:30 a.m. Monday (March 17) in Potter Hall, according to today’s crime alert. The suspect “is alleged to have used the stolen access card to regain entry into Potter Hall,” where, at about 6 a.m. “he is alleged to have entered an occupied dorm room.”

The alleged trespass was the subject of a crime alert sent on Monday. "Once discovered and confronted, the suspect fled the dorm room," the alert stated. The alert included this suspect description: 5-foot-8 and 140 pounds, with short hair, and wearing a black shirt with writing on the back.

In the crime alert for the key card theft, police said the suspect wore dark-colored pants, a dark-colored hoodie with “Cali” inside a blue border on the chest, and a blue baseball cap with “UC Davis” in white lettering.

Prior to sending these two crime alerts, the Police Department had not yet had reason to use the department’s new protocol that says such messages shall be delivered by email to all students or all faculty and staff, or to everyone in both groups, depending on the circumstances.

The trespass alert went to all students; the second alert, linking the two cases, went to all students, staff and faculty. The Police Department sends crime alert from this address: crimealerts@ucdavis.edu.

Crime alerts are issued in accordance with the federal government’s Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, which mandates universities and colleges to report in a timely manner to their campus communities on crimes considered to be a threat to other students and employees.

Previously, UC Davis police sent crime alerts by campus mail, for posting in departments; and by email to anyone who had opted in to receive the alerts.

Crime alerts are distinct from emergency notifications issued through the WarnMe system, which alerts the campus community to immediate threats such as an active shooter or a campuswide issue (a widespread power outage, for example). The WarnMe system automatically includes your office phone number and campus email address, and people are encouraged to add their personal numbers and email addresses, at warnme.ucdavis.edu.

Campus crime and security reports, and crime prevention resources are available on the Police Department website.

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