Safety update: Oct. 11, 202

Dear Loggers,

Campus Safety Officers provided assistance early this morning, Oct. 11, to a Puget Sound community member involved in an off-campus robbery near North 14th Street and North Alder Street. An unknown male approached the community member, demanded their personal items, and took their vehicle. The community member was physically unharmed during the incident and is being supported by university staff.

For safety reasons, Security Services placed campus on lockdown and deactivated the community member’s Logger ID, which was taken during the robbery, to prevent unauthorized access to campus buildings. Tacoma Police responded to the incident and are actively investigating it. Campus Safety Officers have increased vehicle patrols along our campus perimeter and where the community member resides on campus. Security Services continues to work in good partnership with the Tacoma Police Department and is communicating with them to increase their patrols of the area around campus.

In the event of a robbery attempt, we recommend the following immediate actions and safety measures: 

• Prioritize your safety above all else: Follow all commands immediately. Do not argue, fight, or try to debate the robber. Treat the situation calmly. 
• Treat all threats seriously: If a robber brandishes a firearm, knife, or other weapon, or claims to have one, treat it as real and capable of harm. 
• Release belongings freely: If someone grabs your purse, backpack, or other property, release it immediately rather than risk personal injury. 
• Stay put once the robber leaves: Allow the suspect to distance themselves safely. Never follow a suspect after they leave. Staying back keeps you out of harm’s way.