Department of Public Safety
Police Advisories
To keep our community informed, the Office of Public Safety will at times provide information about incidents on or near our campus that will help each of us to remain safe, and when possible provide assistance in identifying potential risks.
Notifications
April 17, 2009 - Threatening Behavior
On Thursday, 4/16, at approximately 10:00 PM, a Simmons student was walking from the Fenway T station to Simmons College when a group of individuals frightened her. Four white men surrounded her and spoke to her in a manner that scared her. When the men were distracted by an approaching car, the student was able to leave the group and return to Simmons unharmed. The student reported this incident to us just this afternoon.
We release this announcement only to remind the community to be aware of your surroundings and to travel if at all possible with others. This is an especially important piece of guidance as the warm weather approaches and we will all tend to be out later in the evening.
March 18, 2009 - Peeping Tom
On March 18, 2009 at approximately 12:00PM MassArt Campus Police responded to the 3rd floor of the Kennedy Building for a "peeping tom" incident. A female entered the 3rd floor female bathroom and went into a vacant stall. The adjacent stall was occupied. A short time later the female then observed a male figure looking over the top of the bathroom stall wall. She screamed, and the male suspect fled the building. Officers checked the immediate area, but were unable to locate the suspect. Surrounding agencies have been made aware of this incident. The suspect was described as a white male, possibly Hispanic, large build in his late 20's to early 30's, approximately 5'9" tall. The suspect has short hair, may be balding, and is wearing a blue and white baseball cap, baggy jeans, and sneakers.
February 23, 2009 - Robbery and Assault
Last Evening February 23, 2009 sometime around 10:00PM and 11:00PM a MassArt student was assaulted and robbed while walking home. The incident took place a short distance from the intersection of South Huntington Ave. and Huntington Ave. The victim was called over to an alley way, and was approached by 3-4 male suspects (unknown description) who started to ask for directions. As the victim approached he was then struck over the head with an unknown object, knocking him to the ground, and leaving him unconscious. The victim was then robbed of his personal belongings, cell phone and wallet. It is believed that a vehicle was involved, the only description at this time was a minivan type of vehicle. Victim was taken to the hospital and treated for a head injury. The Boston Police responded and are investigating the incident. Anyone with information should contact the Boston Police Department, or the Mass Art Campus Police.
November 14, 2008 - Assault
Today at 3:40PM a Simmons employee was walking in the park at Park Drive and The Fenway across from 300 the Fenway and was assaulted by 2 black males who approached him from behind. He was knocked to the ground and assaulted. The subjects were described as teenagers wearing dark clothing.
October 8, 2008 - Armed Robbery
The following facts were reported to Simmons Public Safety by the Wentworth Police Department: On Monday October 6, 2008, at approximately 10:45PM a Wentworth student reported that he was robbed at gun point while traveling through the Wentworth Quad. The victim reported that 5 suspects (4 males and 1 female) were walking on the quad towards the west lot. One of the suspects asked for a cigarette, while the another pulled out a silver firearm and robbed him. The suspects were described by the victim as African Americans approximately 5'7"to 5'8" in height and all wearing black clothing. The female suspect had braids in her hair and was wearing jeans and a black puffy jacket with a black cap. The male suspects were wearing long black jackets.
On Sunday October 5th, 2008, at approximately 11:45pm a Wentworth resident student informed the Wentworth Police Department that he had just been robbed at gun point on Ruggles Street near the bus stop. The student reports he noticed two African American males walking toward him as he walked down Huntington Avenue. The victim described the individuals as teenage males, one 6'0" tall wearing a dark navy or black sweatshirt and a dark hat and the second suspect was described as 5'6" tall weighing approximately 200 lbs. One of the suspects pulled out a firearm and robbed him. The victim was not injured in the robbery. Both Boston and Wentworth Police are investigating and have added extra patrols to the area and campus.
Septemer 11, 2008 - Threat to Nearby College
Earlier today, the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences received a phone threat that led the College administration to consult with the Boston Police Department. In response to the threat, MCPHS Public Safety and the Boston Police Department have taken additional security measures to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff which include the presence of Boston Police on the MCPHS campus. MCPHS business, programs, classes, and exams will continue as scheduled. Because our campuses are so close and students cross register, we are asking all members of our community to be alert and aware of your surroundings and to report any suspicious behaviors to Simmons Public Safety at 1-617-521-1111. We also urge all Simmons College faculty, staff, and students to wear your Simmons identification badge. Anyone having any information related to the call to MCPHS should contact the Boston Police Department.
September 9, 2008 - Assault and Robbery
Emmanuel Public Safety is reporting an armed robbery that occurred at Midnight on Monday night 9/8/08. Two of their female students and a male COF student were walking near Kilmarnock St and Park Drive when they were approached by two males and one female all dressed in dark clothing. The 3 students were assaulted and robbed. All 3 victims were treated and released from local hospitals. Boston Police are investigating. Anyone having any information please contact Boston Police at 617 343 4270 or Simmons Public Safety.
October 2, 2008 - Suspicious Person
This past week at aproximately 4:30-5:00pm an unknown male entered a dormitory on the Emmanuel campus. The
unknown male knocked on the partially open door of a room occupied by a female student. The male entered the
room and engaged the student in conversation and subsequently closed the door behind him. The male subject's
conversation and actions made the resident feel uncomfortable. The male eventually left the room after
repeatedly being told to do so. The resident student was not touched or threatened during this incident. The
incident was investigated by Emmanuel Campus safety and an arrest was made.
All students and staff are reminded to immediately report all suspicious behavior and ensure that unauthorized
individuals are not allowed to enter residence dorms when a person has opened the door with an access card.
(This practice is called "piggybacking".)
May 21, 2008 - Murder
On Tuesday May 20,2008 The Boston Police Department discovered the body of a 22 year old Northeastern University Student, at 170 Parker Hill Avenue in Boston. Boston Police Homicide Detectives are actively investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. In addition Boston Police have increased patrols in the area. This tragic incident serves as a reminder to all that everyone is susceptible to potential acts of violence. As college students it is imperative to possess an appropriate level of awareness in an effort to prevent oneself from being the victim of a crime. They include:
* Possess an intimate awareness of your surroundings;
* Never open your door to strangers and always keep it locked;
* Avoid dimly lit areas;
* Walk with confidence never giving the appearance of being lost or
afraid;
* Be sure to always secure your residence and your vehicle, never
leave valuable items in plain view;
* Know your neighbors and never be afraid to call the police to
report suspicious activity;
* Avoid walking alone, especially at night. Walk with friends and
people you know;
* If you think someone is following you, switch direction or cross
the street. Walk towards an open store, restaurant, or residence.
* Trust your instincts. If you are ever fearful dial 911.
The incident remains an active investigation and officers are seeking the assistance of the public and asking anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious please come forward. Specifically if anyone witnessed a black van in the area of Parker Hill Avenue between 2:00am-3:00am please contact the Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470 or call the anonymous CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS your identity will remain anonymous.
Safety Precautions
As always, the College is concerned for the safety of our community members. We recommend the following precautions to maximize your safety:
- Be aware of your surroundings, don't wear headphones
- Do not walk alone, particularly at night
- Always walk in populated, well-lit areas
- Be aware of the people around you
- If you carry a cell phone, make sure it is charged and turned on
- Look for blue light, emergency phones if you need immediate help
- Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to arrive
- Always have emergency money in case you need to use a cab service
- Report any suspicious incidents to the police, try to remember your exact location and any specific details of the suspect or incident
It is important to remember to report any crime or suspicious incident to the Simmons College Public Safety Department so that we can properly investigate incidents immediately. We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
If you see anything suspicious, or would like a walking escort on campus property, please call the Simmons College Public Safety Department at 617-521-1112 or x1112. If you have an emergency on campus, dial 617-521-1111 or x1111.
If you are off campus and need emergency assistance, dial 911 or *77 on your cellular phone.
