INFORMATION FOR NEW AND RETURNING STUDENTS

The MIT Police would like to extend a warm welcome and take a moment to acquaint you with the services of our Department. The Crime Prevention Unit wishes to advise you of the following:

THEFT ALERT:

The rate of reported larcenies increase in late August and early September as arriving students suffer the loss of unlocked and unattended property. Items such as laptops, wallets, passports, credit cards/MIT ID’s, and backpacks, are among many of the items easily stolen from unlocked rooms. Thieves are well aware of the arrival of new students and take advantage of the moving in process. PLEASE, lock your door at ALL times, including when you’re sleeping.

If you are the victim of a theft, please report it immediately to the MIT Police at x3-1212 or 617-253-1212. MIT Police are on duty, patrolling campus, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We are located at building W89, 301 Vassar St., Cambridge, MA.

Soliciting is not allowed on campus. Solicitors in actuality are looking for the opportunity to steal items from you or others in your area. If you encounter a solicitor, contact the MIT Police by dialing 3-1212 or 100 from any Institute telephone, or 617-253-1212 from a cell phone; provide the dispatcher with a description of the suspect.

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS AND BLUE LIGHT TELEPHONES:

The on campus emergency phone number is 100 from any Institute telephone for police, fire and medical emergencies. MIT Police emergency number, from cell phones, is 617-253-1212. Calls made to 911 from a cell phone do not go to the MIT or Cambridge Police directly.

In case of an emergency:
• state the emergency
• provide your location, and
• stay on the line until told to hang up by the dispatcher

Dialing 100 from any Institute telephone will connect you to the MIT Police. There are numerous direct dial blue light emergency telephones located on campus. Become familiar with their locations before you might need one. Location maps are available from the Crime Prevention Unit, by calling x3-9755 or email crimbite@mit.edu.

BICYCLE REGISTRATION:

Bicycle registration is available from our website. To register you bike, you will need the make, model and serial number, found on the frame of your bike. A registration sticker will be mailed back to you through campus mail. This free service is a very useful way to identify your bike in case of theft. http://web.mit.edu/facilities/transportation/bicycle_reg.html. To learn more about bicycle regulations and other bike tips see http://web.mit.edu/cp/www/biketips.htm

SAFERIDE:

The campus safety shuttle service, known as Saferide, operates from 6:00 pm to 2:30 am Sunday through Wednesday, and until 3:30 am, Thursday through Saturday. Two of the vans are HP accessible. See http://web.mit.edu/facilities/transportation/shuttles/safe_ride.html for schedule information.

PROHIBITIONS:

MIT regulations impose a penalty for anyone found on any building rooftop without proper authorization from the Department of Facilities. Presence on Institute property that is posted to prohibit unauthorized access, or that is locked to prohibit unauthorized access, is not permitted. Please refer to http://web.mit.edu/citizenship/.

The operation of bicycles, in-line skates, skateboards, Segways or any other form of wheeled transportation in Institute buildings or parking structures is prohibited. A fine of $25.00 will be imposed.

Bicycles found illegally parked or attached to stairways, handrails, light posts, or fire chains, will be removed and a fine of $50.00 will be imposed.

Bicycles that are abandoned will be removed by Central Bicycle Service. They can be reached at info@centralbikeservices.com.

SPECIAL SERVICES DIVISION:

INVESTIGATION UNIT: The Unit has one primary task: criminal investigations. If you wish to provide anonymous crime tips please call 617-258-8477 or 8-TIPS. The Detective staff is helpful in providing advice on a wide variety of issues and problems: i.e. small claims court procedures, landlord/tenant disputes, abusive relationship/domestic violence problems, etc. The Detectives work closely with many other law enforcement agencies in the course of their daily activities. They carry out investigations in the same manner as other law enforcement agencies.

SENSITIVE CRIMES UNIT: This falls under the supervision of a Detective Sergeant. This unit is responsible for investigating sensitive crimes including domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and child abuse or neglect.

CRIME PREVENTION UNIT: The Crime Prevention Unit provides you with programs such as the Security Tracking of Office Property (STOP) tags, a risk reduction program for laptop theft; the Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) program, a self defense program for women; bicycle registration; identity theft information, and many other topics. The unit also provides campus maps with the location of blue light emergency telephones and the Safety, Security, and Crime Prevention booklet. Please contact Sgt. Vossmer at 3-9755 or police@mit.edu.