In Copley Hall around 3 p.m. today, students reported that laptops and cell phones were stolen from their dorm rooms. The students left their room temporarily and returned to a room devoid of electronic equipment.

In the past month, the Department of Public Safety Chief Jay Gruber began promoting a software called LoJack that can track the location of a stolen laptop. DPS launched a campaign, setting up in the front entrance to Lauinger Library, to educate students on the best ways to prevent laptop theft in the library or in residence halls given the frequency of these burglaries.

In the month of October, there were 35 crimes reported to DPS, six of which were laptop thefts. LoJack and the University are partnering to decrease the cost of the tracking software from $40 to $13.95 per year. Then of course there are cheaper options, like gluing your laptop to the table. Though perhaps not as effective.

On Saturday, students received an email from the Department of Public Safety concerning a burglary and assault in West Georgetown. The incident occurred at 3:45 a.m. on October 20 in a home on the 3500 block of O Street NW.

Two female students returned to their home early Saturday morning and encountered an unknown male intruder. Originally the students thought that the intruder was the friend of a roommate but after he asked to use the restroom and they began to question him, he punched both women in the face and fled the scene.

The doors of the house had been left unlocked, which, according to DPS Chief Jay Gruber, was the most likely cause of the incident. “The fact is, we’re living in the middle of the city, we have to be careful,” Gruber said in an interview with Vox.

Gruber said that the case is currently being investigated by DPS in conjunction with MPD but that the vague description of the suspect and the lack of evidence at the crime scene are making it difficult to draw any conclusions.

Gruber encourages Georgetown students to make sure that they always lock their doors and windows even if they are present in their residence. If you do find an unwanted guest in your home, you should leave the residence immediately and call 911.

Between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. today, an unknown individual entered a Georgetown student’s residence on the 1400 block of 36th street and stole electronic equipment. According to the Department of Public Safety’s report, a student was in the house at the time of the burglary but did not see or hear the intruder. The 1400 block is between O Street and P Street on 36th.

Both DPS and MPD came to the scene of the incident, and reported no signs of forced entry. The last theft crime reported by DPS was on July 28, when a laptop was stolen from a student’s Village C West dorm. This report came in conjunction with a sexual assault case where a woman jogging  was attacked and placed in a chokehold. Two other laptops were stolen on July 11, near 33rd and Prospect Street.

DPS encourages students to report any safety concerns at (202) 687-4343, and reminds students to keep their doors locked and notify officers of any suspicious activity.

Earlier today, students received two emails from the Department of Public Safety, one regarding a sexual assault last Wednesday and the second on a burglary in Village C West earlier today.

A woman was jogging on Capital Crescent Trail at approximately 9:15 pm., just north of the Three Sisters Island and Water Street, when a man approached her from behind and put her in a chokehold. The victim reportedly lost consciousness and woke up to the suspect fondling her, causing her to scream. He promptly fled to the Fletcher’s Boat House. “As this trail is used by many members of the University Community, please use caution while in that area,” the PSA said.

The PSA described the suspect as a black male wearing a white shirt with black shorts, “5-8″ to 5-11″ tall, weighing 180 to 200 pounds, muscular build, dreadlocks 3 to 4 inches in length and a light, scruffy beard.” The U.S. Park Police is currently investigating the incident. Tee Park Police asks that any individual with more information should call 202-610-8750 or the U.S. Park Police Tip Line at 202-610-8737.

The second announcement from the Department of Public Safety declared that a laptop was stolen at around 8 a.m. in a student’s residence in Village C West. The student reported locking the door before leaving his or her residence, and there were no signs of forced entry. No physical injuries occurred during the burglary. More information is available on the theft here.

Photo by Flickr user Kevin H.

Earlier this morning, several laptops were stolen from a student’s residence on the 3300 block of Prospect Street NW. According to an email from the Department of Public Safety, the residents were not home at the time of the burglary. The alert also added that there were no signs of “forced entry.” The incident occurred between 10:50-11:45 a.m.

Two weeks ago, a student was robbed close to the location of today’s incident, between 33rd and Prospect Street.

DPS requests that anyone who has information regarding this incident, or who noticed any suspects before or after the incident, contact them immediately at (202) 687-4343.

Vox will continue to update this post as DPS provides more information on the incident. Don’t forget to lock your doors, Hoyas.

At approximately 2:35 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, a student was robbed between 33rd and Prospect Street. The culprit approached the student from behind, assaulted her, and stole her purse before fleeing the scene.

Though the student only reported the incident to the Department of Safety on Wednesday evening, she immediately reported it to the Metropolican Police Department, who responded to the scene of the crime. MPD is responsible for the investigation and is looking into the incident. The theft comes about one month after a similar assault in the area on May 15.

DPS requests that anyone who has information regarding this incident, or who noticed any suspects before or after the incident, contact them immediately at (202) 687-4343.

At some point between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. yesterday morning, an apartment in Village A was burglarized, with a student reporting a small amount of cash missing from her wallet. The public safety alert does not specify the nature of the incident, though the vast majority of robberies in the apartment complex have been a result of unlocked doors. Additionally, the victim was not harmed in the incident.

The alert also fails to mention where in Village A the robbery occurred, as apartments with an entrance on Prospect Street were robbed on multiple occasions last year before the Department of Public Safety ramped up security measures in the area.

DPS requests that anyone who has information regarding this incident, or who noticed any suspects before or after the incident, contact them immediately at (202) 687-4343.

A Georgetown employee contacted the Department of Public Safety at approximately 3:30 p.m. today to report a stolen backpack. The backpack, along with the laptop it held, was taken from an unlocked office in the Reiss Science Building. The public safety alert states the employee left the office at around 10:30 this morning and returned five hours later to find the laptop missing.

Today’s theft marks the second laptop theft in Reiss this month, with the other occurring less than two weeks ago. With both incidents, DPS reports that there were no signs of forced entry or physical injury. The Metropolitan Police Department responded to today’s theft and has also taken over investigation of the May 11 burglary.

Today at around 8:20 a.m. a Georgetown employee reported that a laptop was stolen from an office in the Reiss Science Building. According to the public safety report, the employee had left the laptop in the office at around 5:40 p.m. yesterday afternoon, and when he returned this morning it was missing.

There were no physical injuries reported, and according to DPS, evidence indicates there was no forced entry into the office. At the time, the Metropolitan Police Department was contacted and went to the scene. No suspects have been identified yet.

The announcement reminds students that they should call DPS at 202-687-4343 regarding any safety concerns.

Between 5:45 and 6:00 p.m. Friday, a forcible fondling occurred at Village A, according to a public safety alert about the incident. At 6:19 p.m. a student called DPS to report the incident. DPS and MPD responded to investigate and search for the suspect, who was last seen walking west between Leo O’Donovan Hall and Southwest Quad. The search for the suspect was not successful. The victim was not physically harmed during the incident.

A witness described the suspect as a slim, non-student, college-age, 5’8″ black male, wearing a lime green jacket. The witness description also noted the suspect’s crooked teeth.

DPS requests that anyone who has information regarding this incident, or who noticed any suspects before or after the incident, to contact them immediately at (202) 687-4343.