Dear University community, 

The UW Oshkosh Police Department is investigating two recent incidents that we are seeking assistance on.  

Incident 1: Stolen Motor Vehicle
Last evening, we took the report of a possible stolen vehicle that we confirmed this morning was stolen on July 28th, 2023, at approximately 9:45 PM. The vehicle was stolen from the UWO Oshkosh Parking Ramp. 

Incident 2: Vehicle Tampering
In the early morning of August 2, 2023, one of our officers discovered a vehicle in a UWO parking lot with an open door and signs of tampering near the steering column. Thankfully, the vehicle was not stolen, but this incident raises concern that there was another attempt to steal a vehicle from our campus.  

At this stage, we are uncertain if these two incidents are connected. However, it is worth noting that both vehicles were unlocked, making them vulnerable to theft and tampering. It is possible that the suspect responsible for the stolen vehicle on July 28th may have been seeking another opportunity to steal a different vehicle. 

We are working through initial leads to identify a potential suspect. If you have any information regarding these incidents, please contact the UW Oshkosh Police Department at (920) 424-1212 or use the UWO Mobile App to chat with a UWO Police Department dispatcher.  

Our personnel are actively investigating both incidents and are committed to ensuring the safety and security of our campus community. The safety of our campus community is our number one priority, and we encourage everyone to play a role in keeping our campus safe by partnering with us to report information that is suspicious or seems out of the ordinary.  

The following resources can also be used to report information: 

UWO POLICE DEPARTMENT WEBSITE:
Report information anonymously on the UW Oshkosh Police Department website by visiting the following link: https://uwosh.edu/police/services/report-an-incident/ 

UWO MOBILE:
Download and use the UWO Mobile App. You can report information anonymously, chat real-time with a UW Oshkosh Police Department dispatcher and find resources to help you connect with other resources on campus and in the area. 

CRIME STOPPERS:
If you have information about this crime or others and you would like to remain anonymous, please contact Winnebago County Wide Crime Stoppers at (920) 231-8477 submit a P3 Tip online at www.winnebagocrimestoppers.org 

SAFETY INFORMATION:
Survivors of crimes are never responsible for their victimization. It is the perpetrators of crimes who affect the safety of our community members. Knowing this, there is much we can share to empower members of the campus community to remain safe, to encourage responsibility and accountability in others, to let perpetrators know we look out for one another and report crimes and to help end bystander behavior.

Vehicle thefts are often opportunistic crimes. Remain vigilant and take steps to protect your vehicles: 

• Lock Your Vehicles: Always lock your vehicle when it is parked, regardless of the location or time of day. 
• Report Suspicious Activity: If you observe anyone acting suspiciously around parked vehicles or attempting to open car doors, please report it immediately to the UW Oshkosh Police Department. 
• Securing Your Vehicle: Consider using additional security measures, such as steering wheel locks or car alarms, to deter potential thieves. 
• Free Vehicle Wheel Locks: For added protection, vehicle wheel locks are available at the UW Oshkosh Police Department, located in the basement of Radford Hall on campus. 

If you have questions about your personal safety or what you can do to help encourage campus safety, please contact the UWO Police Department at (920) 424-1212.