Police warn of internet scams targeting students
URBANA – Police are reminding students not to send money to or accept checks from individuals they have never met. The University of Illinois Police Department has taken a series of reports recently from students who say others have scammed them or attempted to scam them out of money. Some students have received emails from an individual identifying himself as Riley McMurray, purportedly a recruitment director from ISB Manufacturing. The emails offer a job, and inform the students that they will receive a check in the mail via FedEx. They are instructed to deposit that check, keep 10 percent for [...]
Police step up traffic enforcement on Windsor Road
URBANA – University of Illinois Police plan to step up traffic enforcement on Windsor Road immediately south of campus following an informal study of speeds along that stretch of road. U. of I. Police Lt. Joe McCullough said police officers on routine patrols began noting that motorists were routinely traveling at speeds of 50 to 70 mph, and even a few measured close to 80 mph. The posted speed limit on Windsor Road is 45 mph. Paired with nicer weather, that creates a very dangerous situation. “It’s unnerving, especially because we’re now seeing a particularly high amount of runners and bicyclists [...]
UIPD supporting Children’s Advocacy Center efforts
URBANA — In partnership with other Champaign County criminal justice agencies, the University of Illinois Police Department is participating in the Champaign County Children's Advocacy Center's "Blue Kids" campaign to prevent child abuse. The Children's Advocacy Center has installed a highly-visible "Blue Kids" silhouette in front of the department on Springfield Avenue for the month of April, which is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Similar signs have been installed at other locations to highlight the tragic reality of child abuse. “The Children's Advocacy Center is a crucial partner in helping to prevent child abuse in Champaign County,” said U. of I. Police Lt. Tom Geis. “They’ve been a [...]
K9 Quinty passes after one last bust
URBANA – The University of Illinois Police Department is mourning the sudden loss of one of its own after K9 Quinty passed this weekend — but not before he made one last drug bust. The 10-year-old police dog had been experiencing some health issues earlier in the week. He returned to work after being checked out by a veterinarian, and police were awaiting test results. Those health issues resurfaced early Saturday morning while Quinty was at work. He was rushed to the U. of I. College of Veterinary Medicine clinic, but nothing could be done. Quinty’s handler and his family [...]
Extensive security network enhances campus safety
URBANA — The University of Illinois Police Department’s network of more than 1,000 security cameras around campus has proven successful, and the crime prevention measure has become a staple for investigations. Starting in 2007, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and UIPD took up the initiative to make the campus safer. Previously, the individual campus units built and maintained their own camera networks, but campus leaders believed a centralized camera system would be a more effective security tool. This new system aimed to provide security for both interior and exterior campus buildings. The effort was made with dual-purpose; the first to [...]