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Halloween is coming up soon, and we want you to stay safe while having fun. Here are a few tips and tricks for having an enjoyable night:

• Choose your Halloween costume wisely. Wear something that you can move in and make sure masks and wigs don’t accidentally cover your eyes. Don’t carry fake weapons or items that could appear to be a weapon.
• Stay on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway facing traffic. Walk with friends, if possible.
• Drivers may have trouble seeing you. Just because one car stops doesn’t mean they all will.
• Watch out for your friends and others, whether outside or at a party – be aware of your friends’ whereabouts and try not to leave them unattended. Huskies watch out for each other.
• If drinking is part of your plans, choose a designated driver or plan how you will get home without getting behind the wheel. Also, know what you’re drinking and do not leave your beverage unattended.
• The safest play is to not take any recreational drugs. If you do, be aware of what you have – don’t just trust what a treat giver tells you they’re giving you.
• Avoid playing pranks (particularly on strangers).
• Trust your instincts – if something doesn’t feel right, get yourself out of the situation as soon as possible.
• Always carry your phone with you and don’t hesitate to call 911 to report suspicious or criminal activity.
• Make a plan for getting home safely. Check out the NightRide shuttle, which picks up at eight scheduled stops around campus and drops off riders at their requested location within the East or West zone boundaries. UWPD’s Husky SafeTrip program also provides safe vehicle escort at night with a uniformed security guard for students, faculty and staff. Use Husky SafeTrip to safely get to and from campus to your home, to your car, to public transit or to another UW building within the SafeTrip service area.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

E-bikes and e-scooters are prime targets for thieves, and the UW campus in Seattle is no exception. If you’re an e-bike or e-scooter owner, there are several steps you can take to protect your ride.

1. If you can, bring your e-bike or e-scooter indoors

Check into getting access to a bike room, locker or house. Several UW buildings have secure bicycle rooms for use by building occupants, and most residence halls provide bicycle storage in designated bicycle rooms. Access to bike rooms in non-residential buildings should be coordinated through that building’s Building Coordinator. Access to residence hall bike rooms should be coordinated through Housing and Food Services or with the hall’s front desk.

2. Use two locks – and make one of them a U lock

Yes, this is inconvenient, but it can make it significantly tougher for thieves to take your e-bike. If you’re leaving your bike for an extended time, use a U lock and a chain lock. Lock your bike to a strong anchor, like a bike rack.

3. Take your battery with you

Thieves are less interested in a ride without the battery.

4. Register your e-bike or e-scooter

Register your e-bike or e-scooter with Bike Index. Knowing your serial number makes it easier to return your bike to you if it ever gets lost or stolen and then recovered. Recovery does happen! If your serial number has worn off or you never had a serial number, engrave an owner ID on your e-bike or e-scooter. Use an engraving tool to apply an owner ID, such as your driver’s license number (never use your social security number).

5. Install a GPS tracker

GPS trackers, like Tiles or Apple AirTags are small and easy to conceal. It improves the odds that law enforcement will be able to locate your e-bike or e-scooter if it’s stolen.

6. Report suspicious activity and theft

• If you see suspicious activity around bike racks, call 911. This is the most frequent way we catch thieves in the act.
• Make a police report when your e-bike or e-scooter is stolen. If your ride is stolen on campus, you can report online or call UWPD’s non-emergency number, 206-685-8973. If your e-bike or e-scooter is stolen in the City of Seattle, if it’s worth $500 or less, use the Seattle Police Department’s online form. If it’s worth more than $500, call the Seattle Police Department non-emergency line at 206-625-5011. You can also mark your e-bike or e-scooter stolen on Bike Index.
• Make an anonymous tip. If you know something about a crime, but wish to remain anonymous, you can call the UWPD on its tipline at 206-685-8477.

The University of Washington Police Department is warning international students about a new scam email from a fake UW office that alleges that a student committed academic integrity violations.

The email is from a person who is not a real UW employee in the UW’s non-existent Academic Integrity Department and accuses the international student of multiple instances of plagiarism that could threaten their student visa status (see below for a copy of the message text).

This is a scam. If you receive this message, contact the University of Washington Police Department’s non-emergency number at 206-685-8973. Do not respond to the email, and do not disclose any personal information.

You may contact the UW International Student Services Office and the UW Community Standards & Conduct Office directly if you have questions about the legitimacy of any email messages you’ve received regarding academic misconduct. UW-IT can also assist in checking whether an email is legitimate. For UW-IT assistance, email help@uw.edu. Emails from UW offices generally come from uw.edu addresses.

This is the scam message the student received.

Subject: Immediate Attention Required – Academic Integrity Concerns

I hope this message finds you well. My name is Sarah Phillip, and I am the Agent of the Academic Integrity Department at the University of Washington.

Our department has identified serious concerns regarding instances of plagiarism in multiple courses you have undertaken during the following academic quarters: Autumn 2023, Winter 2023, Spring 2024, and Autumn 2024. Specifically, the courses EDUC 215, ECON 200, and ESRM 101 are under review for significant breaches of the university’s academic integrity policies.

As you are aware, the University of Washington maintains a strict commitment to academic honesty, and violations of this nature are considered serious. The findings of plagiarism in these courses not only jeopardize your academic standing but also put your F-1 visa status and I-20 documentation at risk of termination, which would result in expulsion from the university.

You are required to provide a comprehensive explanation and any supporting evidence regarding these incidents by no later than January 3, 2025. Failure to respond by this deadline will lead to a formal recommendation for expulsion.

Please contact this email immediately if you have any questions or require clarification regarding this matter. You may submit your response via email or in person to the Academic Integrity Department.
We urge you to treat this matter with the utmost seriousness.

Sincerely,
Sarah Phillip
Academic Integrity Department
University of Washington

During the early morning hours of Sept. 5, an area within Husky Stadium at the University of Washington was burglarized by two suspects. During the investigation, the University of Washington Police Department learned that several items belonging to the UW Athletics Department were stolen. Among the stolen items were 12 collegiate football championship rings from different universities.

Utilizing multiple resources, UWPD investigators were able to quickly identify the two suspects involved in the crime and recover several of the stolen items, including eight out of the 12 rings.

UWPD is currently seeking further assistance from the public regarding the outstanding four rings. The rings are described as KANSAS STATE RINGS.

If anyone has any information regarding the location of the rings, they are encouraged to contact the University of Washington Police Department at 206-685-8973.