The OU Police Department is asking students, faculty and staff to immediately report any information they might have about who is vandalizing vehicles on campus after a spike in damage reports this week.
Lt. Bruce Chan, department spokesman, said Friday afternoon that there are no suspects in investigations of any of at least two reported incidents this week.
The most recent police report was made Wednesday, Chan said; a vehicle's paint was scratched with a sharp object in the parking lot behind Cate Cafeteria. Another vehicle was reported Tuesday to have its paint scratched. Chan said he was unsure whether the incidents were connected.
"Even if it happens one time, it's too many," he said. "It's more than just an annoyance to those who have it happen to them. It's property damage.
"If and when the person doing this is caught, there will be serious consequences," he added.
While little can be done to avoid vandalism to vehicles' exteriors, parking in well-lit, populated areas is safer than parking in dark, empty spaces, Chan said. Students, faculty and staff should also keep their doors locked to protect the valuables inside their vehicles, he said.
The OU Police Department Web site advises those who see suspicious activity to not confront anyone but to instead call the OU Police Department at (405) 325-1911. Those with non-emergency information about who might be responsible for campus vandalism should call (405) 325-2864.
Chan said that while report numbers are up, vehicle vandalism is not one of the most frequent crimes on campus and that the threat level "in the overall scheme of things" is not very high.
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