WEEKLY LUPD ACTIVITY SUMMARY
May 11, 2026 – May 17, 2026
The Lehigh University Police Department processed 146 total selected calls for service during this reporting period. The general campus climate was stable but active, heavily characterized by end-of-semester move-out logistics, final residential room checks, and commencement weekend events. Logistical service requests, lockouts, and found property items comprised a major portion of police activity.
SIGNIFICANT INCIDENTS & CRIMES
Crimes Against Property/Person: A package theft was reported at Farrington Square Residence Hall D, where two delivered packages left unattended outside a lounge were lost or potentially stolen; the investigation remains open. A university employee reported the theft of a Tesla charging adapter from a vehicle while charging at the Zoellner Parking Garage ChargePoint station; the suspect is unknown and the case is open. An open investigation is underway regarding a threatening text received by a graduate student from an unknown sender demanding they join a Discord server or face family harm, which is suspected to be a baseless scam attempt. LUPD opened an investigation into an off-campus hazing report filed by a senior student regarding an off-campus house associated with Alpha Epsilon Pi (where members allegedly referred to themselves as "Alpha Tau Omega"), noting screaming and coercive commands originating from the basement during the spring semester.
Fraud/Drugs/Liquor: A fraudulent New York driver's license was discovered by a Gryphon inside a room drawer during final checks at Williams House and was referred to the Dean of Students. A drug violation report at Brodhead House resulted in the confiscation of a glass water bong and the discovery of a city ordinance violation where a smoke detector was covered with a plastic grocery bag; the student was referred to the Dean of Students Office with no state or city charges filed. Two underage non-student Moravian University students were warned about trespassing after crossing a restricted access road near the Bethlehem Star while in possession of alcohol; they disposed of the beverages and were escorted to an Uber. No incidents required the application of medical amnesty protections under the Timothy Piazza Anti-Hazing and Safe Harbor Act this week.
Facilities & Hazards: A leaking water fountain in Maginnes Hall caused minor flooding, less than a centimeter deep, in a hallway and classroom, requiring ABM maintenance to coordinate a third-party plumber. Fire alarms requiring Bethlehem Fire Department response occurred at Southside Commons due to smoke from burned bacon and at the Sherman Fairchild Center auditorium lobby due to a tripped detector with no signs of smoke or fire; both systems were safely reset. A trouble fire alarm at Baker Hall reset automatically before officer arrival, showing no adverse conditions.
SECURITY ALARMS & UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS
Suspicious Activity: Four local high school freshman juveniles reported for being loud, removing hand sanitizer from a ticket booth, and holding a hanger near a vending machine at the Zoellner Arts Center were located in a restroom, escorted out, and warned not to return without a legitimate purpose. An impromptu car meet consisting of approximately 50-75 vehicles on the top deck of the Zoellner Parking Garage was discovered by patrol and successfully dispersed from the private property without incident.
Security Breaches: Multiple ground-level windows and security screens were found open and unsecured at the Kappa Delta sorority house during routine patrol; all windows were secured by the officer, and a facilities work order was requested for a broken screen. Open gates were discovered and secured at Sayre Fields and the Ulrich Fields Complex.
Alarms: Multiple door prop and door held alarms were logged at the Business Innovation Building (BIB), Maida House, and Whitaker Laboratory. The Maida House and BIB alarms involved mechanical issues, such as a broken arm hinge or a door sticking on the bottom frame, prompting work orders. Accidental burglar alarms were triggered and cleared at the Zoellner Arts Center ticket office due to a door left slightly ajar, and at Transportation Services, where a staff member forgot to enter the code.
TRAFFIC STOPS & ENFORCEMENT
Traffic Stops: A vehicle stop was conducted at 622 Brodhead Avenue after an employee drove north through a stop sign at Sayre Drive and University Drive without stopping and initially failed to pull over when flagged down; the employee was given a verbal warning.
SERVICE & LOGISTICS
Lockouts: LUPD processed a total of 54 residential and building lockout requests across campus over the course of the week, driven primarily by move-out activities and automatic access deactivations.
Welfare Checks: Two "Check Person" logs were completed: a student at Umoja House was checked at the request of his mother who was on campus to pick him up and could not reach him, and was found safely oversleeping; another student at Farrington Square D was checked following an anonymous call regarding potential seizures, but was found fine.
Assistance & Medical: Officers assisted with 3 vehicle jump-starts, including one for an employee vehicle and two for students. First aid was provided to a student who sustained a minor elbow laceration from a slip-and-fall on the grass near the Alumni Memorial Building. Two heat-related medical incidents were addressed during commencement at Goodman Stadium: a faculty member passed out briefly and was transported to the hospital by Dewey EMS, and a student's parent passed out briefly, was evaluated by Dewey EMS, and refused medical transport. Logistical assistance included retrieving dropped items from elevator shafts (a cell phone at Brodhead House and keys at Mohler Lab), providing facility access for drop-offs or photo sessions (uniform returns at Grace Hall, hockey equipment at Grace Hall, graduation photos at Linderman Library, and coach equipment retrieval at Taylor Gym), securing an off-campus student's package for safekeeping, and conducting campus cash deposits and bank escorts.
TRENDS & LESSONS LEARNED
Move-Out Logistics & Access Card Deactivations: A massive wave of lockouts occurred this week, frequently due to students moving items out and leaving IDs behind, or due to card deactivations for students who forgot to coordinate extended-stay housing extensions. Students staying late are strongly reminded to verify their extended stay status with Housing Services to prevent card access issues.
Facilities Wear-and-Tear: High move-out foot traffic caused physical door damage (such as a broken ADA arm hinge at Maida House) and sticking frames at the Business Innovation Building, leading to recurrent door alarms.