Bloomington-Normal crime report 2/16-20

NORMAL, Ill. – After a recent shooting near Illinois State University’s campus, some community members have been left shaken.

Although incidents like this are uncommon on and around campus, other crimes occur more regularly. ISU Police Chief Aaron Woodruff said theft and criminal damage cases are the most common.

“The highest number of issues that we have are related to either theft or criminal damage-type cases. So somebody leaving their laptop, or something happened to get stolen,” Woodruff said. “It’s really about keeping track of your valuables. I know a lot of people go to the library and may leave the laptop sitting on one table, then go to another part of the library, another floor, and that’s certainly a risk.”

Woodruff suggested students leave a friend with their belongings if they plan to step away, which can help deter crimes of opportunity. If a friend is not available, he said asking someone nearby to watch items can also act as a deterrent.

If someone becomes a victim of theft or loses property, there are several ways to report it.

“They could either call our department. We could send an officer to them, or they can walk into our department,” Woodruff said. “One thing I would really recommend is students make sure you have a good idea of not just what the property is, but if they know the serial number of it, if there is a way to track it, like even your cell phone, things like that might help us be able to locate it for you.”

In addition to theft prevention, ISU police maintain a consistent presence on campus as both a deterrent and a resource for students.

“Our officers, in addition to driving around campus, spend a couple hours each shift just walking around the campus, too. So most students have probably seen them in the residence halls, walking around the residence halls, and for us, that is very much like the streets of a regular community,” Woodruff said.

Officers also patrol the university quad, academic buildings and surrounding areas. If students feel unsafe or need to report something and an officer is not nearby, Woodruff said calling police immediately is the best option.

“We encourage them to call us right away,” Woodruff said. “Time is always of the essence. So if it’s an emergency, 911. If it’s a nonemergency and you’re just concerned, you can either call our nonemergency number, 309-438-8631, use the blue light phone, or use the Safe Redbirds app, which also has some features for notifying us.”

ISU police also operate a community engagement unit that connects students with safety resources. Sophomore biology major Katelyn Slobodian said she follows ISU police on social media.

“The police social media can be really helpful for students, especially when there are major incidents on campus. I know my mom follows it, too, and it helps her know if anything bad is happening,” Slobodian said.

Woodruff said campus safety is a shared responsibility between police, students and the university.

“When you have a concern about a friend, loved one, whoever it is, making sure that you’re watching out for them, making sure they’re making it home safely after a party or whatever event, I think that’s always going to be key. So that buddy system really does make a difference in helping keep our campus safe,” Woodruff said.

For the latest local police news, read the weekly crime report or tune in to 103.3 WZND for hourly news updates.