NUPD Timely Warning Notification
The Northeastern University Police Department and city law enforcement agencies are investigating two incidents involving knives that had occurred during the past 24 hours near the Boston campus. Neither the victims, nor the suspects involved in these incidents were affiliated with Northeastern. The most recent incident was an assault that occurred at approximately 1:02 a.m. today, Thursday, April 15, in front of the Douglas Park leased property at 650 Columbus Avenue. The suspect was armed with a knife and was known to the victim. The victim sustained an injury to their arm and was transported to the hospital. The suspect was arrested by the Boston Police Department.
The earlier incident had occurred on Wednesday, April 14 at 4:22 p.m. It was an armed robbery of a bicycle on Camden Street near the Carter Park Tennis Courts. The victim sustained minor injuries and all three suspects involved in this incident were apprehended by the NUPD and State Police.
These incidents are part of an increase in reported criminal activity in the communities surrounding our Boston campus. The safety and wellbeing of our university community remains our top priority. We want to remind you to stay vigilant and pay attention to surroundings at all times as you are enjoying outdoor activities and going about your business on and around campus.
Here are some important safety tips:
Be Aware of Your Surroundings. Remove distractions whenever possible. Getting lost in thought or in your headphones may be routine when walking to class or studying in a quiet spot, but it is crucial to keep your eyes and ears open. While this sounds easy enough, listening to music, talking on a cell phone, and text messaging are all distractions. Know what is going on around you and keep alert. Plan your route and avoid unfamiliar streets whenever possible. If you notice anything that you feel is unsafe or suspicious, notify NUPD at 617-373-3333 or utilize the SafeZone app.
SafeZone Mobile Safety App. SafeZone is a smart phone app that any student or staff member can download and use for free. Should you need emergency assistance, this app will connect you directly to the NUPD and on-duty police personnel. More information on the SafeZone mobile app can be found at nupd.northeastern.edu/safezone.
Avoid Walking Alone. There is safety in numbers and it is always beneficial to walk with others, especially at night. This is still true when considering healthy distancing and other current COVID protocols. Wanting to get home after a night out or between late night classes, you may be tempted to give in to walking alone – avoid it whenever possible and if you feel unsafe, contact NUPD at 617-373-3333 or utilize the SafeZone app.
Trust Your Instincts. Taking control of your own safety means doing what is necessary to avoid dangerous situations. If something doesn’t feel right, even if you can’t put your finger on why, try to remove yourself from the situation altogether. Trust your instincts.
Emergency Notifications. Northeastern University uses the NU Alert system to communicate emergency notifications and timely warning messages to our community. Messages sent on this system may go to emails and phone numbers registered in your myNortheastern portal. Be sure to keep this information current. NU Alerts are issued when an immediate threat to health or safety of the campus has been confirmed. Timely Warning notifications are sent by email notification when a serious and/or violent crime has occurred on campus. For more information about the NU Alert system, please visit nupd.northeastern.edu/nualert/.
Stay Informed. The Northeastern University Police Department highly recommends that our community follow communication methods for the towns and cities in which we each work, live, and study. Most towns and cities have adopted their own alert systems.
Review the Emergency Guidebook and NUPD Website. Be sure to check out the NU Emergency Guidebook at nupd.northeastern.edu/guide and also the additional tips and services found on NUPD’s Website at nupd.northeastern.edu.
Remember to be safe, Huskies!
Northeastern University Police Department