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05-18-22 Robbery West of Campus

Notification of Criminal Incident – Seattle Campus
May 18, 2022
Robbery west of campus

This message is being communicated to all faculty, staff and Seattle campus students with the approval of the UW Police Department. This message is sent in the interest of public safety and in compliance with federal law requiring timely warning notification of crimes committed on or near campus. This is not a UW Alert message. For information regarding UW Alert and to sign up to receive UW Alert notifications, visit www.uwalert.org.

Seattle police are investigating a robbery that occurred on May 18, 2022, at approximately 1 a.m. in the 4500 block of University Way NE. While a man was removing graffiti from buildings in the area, he was punched several times and his truck was stolen by an unknown suspect. The suspect and the vehicle were located a short time later in an alleyway in the 4700 block of 12th Ave. NE, however the suspect ran from the vehicle and was unable to be located by responding officers.

The victim was treated at the scene for his injuries by Seattle Fire Department personnel and released. He was later transported to the location where his vehicle was found.

The suspect in the crime is described as a man wearing a gray sweater and carrying a black backpack.

If you witnessed this incident or have additional information about this crime or suspect, please call the Seattle Police Department at 206-625-5011. The case report number is 2022-124508. To report a crime in progress, or other suspicious activities or persons, call 911.

Crime prevention tips for similar incidents:
• Be cognizant of your surroundings at all times.
• Call 911 immediately in an emergency.
• Avoid confrontations whenever possible.
• Remove yourself from potentially dangerous situations as soon as possible.

If you suspect criminal activity, some helpful information to pass on to the police:
• Clothing descriptors: Look for layers under the visible layer and other distinctive identifiers
• Physical characteristics: Describe height, weight, eyes, hair, mannerisms, scars/tattoos.
• Direction of travel (by foot or automobile): Describe the last known location of the suspect.
• Suspect vehicle description: color, year, model, make and license plate.
• Any weapons involved.

Contact the University of Washington Police Department’s Community Engagement Unit at 206-685-1916 for additional crime prevention information.