A trespassing incident early Monday (March 17) in a campus residence hall prompted the Police Department’s first crime alert under a new protocol that says such messages shall be delivered by mass email.

Monday’s alert went to all students, advising them of the trespass that occurred about 6 a.m. in the Tercero housing area. According to the alert, residents discovered an unknown man in their room, and he fled when they confronted him. Police searched the area without finding him.

Witnesses described the trespasser as 5-foot-8 and 140 pounds, with short hair, and said he wore a black shirt with writing on the back.

Under the federal government’s Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, universities and colleges must report in a timely manner to their campus communities on crimes considered to be a threat to other students and employees.

Previously, the UC Davis Police Department sent crime alerts by campus mail, for posting in departments; and by email to anyone who had opted in to receive the alerts. Now crime alert emails — from crimealerts@ucdavis.edu — go to all students or all faculty and staff, or to everyone in both groups, depending on the circumstances.

Crime alerts are distinct from emergency notifications issued through the WarnMe system, which alerts the campus community to immediate threats such as an active shooter or a campuswide issue (a widespread power outage, for example). The WarnMe system automatically includes your office phone number and campus email address, and people are encouraged to add their personal numbers and email addresses, at warnme.ucdavis.edu.

Campus crime and security reports, and crime prevention resources are available on the Police Department website.

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