{
  "id": "2025-10-07-northern-illinois-university-electric-scooter-thefts",
  "slug": "northern-illinois-university-electric-scooter-thefts-2025-10-07",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Northern Illinois University",
    "shortName": "NIU",
    "state": "IL",
    "type": "public-r2",
    "alertSystemName": "NIU Safety Notification",
    "enrollment": 16000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2025-10-07",
    "type": "theft",
    "cleryCategory": "timely-warning",
    "resolution": "unknown",
    "headline": "Pattern thefts of electric scooters on campus",
    "headlinePublic": "Pattern thefts of electric scooters on campus",
    "summary": "NIU Police [posted a safety warning after multiple electric-scooter thefts around campus from August 29 through October 6 2025](https://www.niu.edu/publicsafety/emergency/safetybulletin/archive.shtml), including residence-hall bike racks, academic buildings, and the Holmes Student Center.",
    "outcome": "Suspects not identified; investigations ongoing. Details field includes safety-tips and prevention list."
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestampApprox": "Safety warning for thefts 8/29/25-10/6/25 posted on the archive as 2025-10-07",
      "channel": "website",
      "verbatimText": "Multiple thefts of electric scooters (E-scooters) have recently been reported around campus (8/29/25 - 10/6/25). These thefts occurred at various locations including residence hall bike racks, academic buildings, and the Holmes Student Center. \n \n In each reported incident, scooters were either left unsecured or secured with easily removable locks. The suspects in these cases have not yet been identified, and investigations are ongoing.\n \n If you have any information related to the thefts or witness any suspicious activity, please get to a safe location and report it immediately to the NIU Department of Police and Public Safety at 815-753-1212, or the DeKalb Police Department at 815-748-8400. Witnesses may remain anonymous by calling 815-753-TIPS (8477). In an emergency, please call 911. Suspicious activity may also be reported through the NIU Safe App. The app is now available for download in the Apple Store and Google Play. See go.niu.edu/niusafe for more details about the app.\n\nSAFETY TIPS and PREVENTION\n \n To help prevent further incidents, the NIU Department of Public Safety recommends the following:\n \n - Always secure your E-scooter using a high-quality U-lock or chain lock.\n - Park in well-lit, designated scooter or bike areas.\n - Report suspicious activity immediately to campus police at 815-753-1212.\n - Consider using GPS tracking devices for high-value items like E-scooters.\n - If your scooter is stolen, report it immediately to the NIU Department of Police and Public Safety and provide identifying information (make, model, serial number, color, etc.).",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "confidence": "high",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.niu.edu/publicsafety/emergency/safetybulletin/archive.shtml",
      "sourceDescription": "NIU Safety Notifications archive: Thefts of Electric Scooters",
      "annotations": [
        "Dual HTML Details-field extract EQUAL sha256 fd910e4fcd1b32ca7ac56cfdfc76d56386ce47a37d45e2458eb0a01954104302 chars=1588. Table chrome omitted. SAFETY TIPS and PREVENTION kept because they sit inside the Details cell."
      ],
      "characterCount": 1588
    }
  ],
  "context": "NIU publishes Safety Notifications at [niu.edu/publicsafety/emergency/safetybulletin](https://www.niu.edu/publicsafety/emergency/safetybulletin/index.shtml). This product is on the [archive](https://www.niu.edu/publicsafety/emergency/safetybulletin/archive.shtml).",
  "keyFindings": [
    "Official pattern-theft safety warning for unsecured or weakly locked e-scooters, August 29 through October 6 2025."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "NIU Safety Warning - Thefts of Electric Scooters",
      "url": "https://www.niu.edu/publicsafety/emergency/safetybulletin/archive.shtml",
      "type": "official-archive",
      "accessDate": "2026-09-14",
      "archiveUrl": null,
      "archiveNotes": "SPN not attempted after 500 flap"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "niu",
    "theft",
    "2025"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-09-14",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-09-14",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}