Notification of Criminal Incident – Seattle Campus
July 2, 2022
Carjacking northwest 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 uwalert.org.
Seattle police are investigating a vehicle theft at knifepoint that occurred on Saturday, July 2, 2022, at approximately 3:45 a.m. in the 5000 block of University Way NE. The victim was outside of his vehicle when a man approached him holding a knife and said, “I need your car!” The victim jumped backward, and the suspect got into and drove away with the victim’s vehicle heading northbound on University Way NE. The victim advised Seattle police the suspect smelled strongly of gasoline. The description of the suspect closely resembled a suspect who had earlier thrown gas on a person, lit a business on fire, then set a car on fire in the area of NE 65th Street and Roosevelt Way NE.
The suspect in this incident is described as a smaller male.
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.