{ "id": "2024-05-13-ucsb-stalking", "slug": "ucsb-stalking-2024-05-13", "institution": { "name": "University of California, Santa Barbara", "shortName": "UCSB", "state": "CA", "type": "public-r1", "alertSystemName": "UCSB Alert", "enrollment": 26000 }, "incident": { "date": "2024-05-13", "endDate": "2024-05-14", "type": "stalking", "cleryCategory": "timely-warning", "headline": "Timely warning covers two stalking reports on consecutive days by the same suspect", "headlinePublic": "Timely warning covers two stalking reports on consecutive days by the same suspect", "summary": "The [UC Santa Barbara Police Department](https://www.police.ucsb.edu/) issued a [timely warning on May 16, 2024](https://www.police.ucsb.edu/alerts/timely-warning-content-warning-message-includes-descriptions-stalking) covering two reported stalking incidents on consecutive days: one outside the Humanities and Social Sciences Building (HSSB) on May 13, 2024 at approximately 7:00 PM PDT, and one outside Theater and Dance West on May 14, 2024 at approximately 4:00 PM PDT. In each, the suspect approached a victim, asked for their phone number, and then contacted them offering to pay them to meet and talk. The [suspect was described](https://dailynexus.com/2024-05-16/stalker-at-large-asks-students-for-number-offers-money-to-meet-ucpd-reports/) as an Asian or Indian adult male, approximately 25-30 years old, 6 feet tall, thin build, around 175 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.", "outcome": "Under investigation by UCSB Police Department.", "resolution": "under-investigation" }, "alerts": [ { "sequence": 1, "type": "initial", "timestampApprox": "Issued by UCSB Police Department on May 16, 2024, two to three days after the reported incidents", "channel": "email", "sourceUrl": "https://www.police.ucsb.edu/alerts/timely-warning-content-warning-message-includes-descriptions-stalking", "verbatimText": "Content Warning: This timely warning includes descriptions of stalking.\n\nIn an effort to promote campus safety and provide timely information to our campus community, the following information is being provided so that you can make informed decisions about your safety. We encourage all community members to care for their needs and well-being while reading this message, especially those who have been impacted by similar forms of violence.\n\nCARE provides free and confidential support and advocacy to students, staff, and faculty who have experienced sexual violence, including sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking. Please call the 24/7 confidential phone line (805) 893-4613 any time to explore your rights, options, and support. CARE website: care.ucsb.edu\n\nStalking is a form of Sexual Violence under University policies. Information about UCSB’s policies and support resources for sexual violence can be found at: titleix.ucsb.edu\n\nReport\n\nThis is a Timely Warning regarding a crime that occurred on campus property. \n\nOn Tuesday, May 14, 2024, the UCSB Police Department received a report of stalking that occurred outside Theater and Dance West on May 14, 2024 around 4:00 p.m. The suspect approached the victim, asked for their phone number, and then contacted them, offering to pay them to meet and talk. On May 15, 2024 the UCSB Police Department received a similar report where the suspect approached the victim, asked them for their phone number, and then texted them, offering them money to meet and talk. This incident occurred outside the Humanities and Social Sciences Building (HSSB) on May 13, 2024 around 7:00 p.m.\n\nThe suspect is described as an Asian or Indian adult male, approximately 25-30 years old, 6 feet tall, thin, around 175 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. During the incident on May 14th he was described as wearing a grey sweatshirt, black pants, and a backpack. \n\nUCPD is investigating this crime. If you have information that might assist in the investigation, please contact the UCSB Police Department at (805) 893-3446, or report crime information anonymously at www.police.ucsb.edu/report-crime.\n\nUCPD reminds the campus community of the following safety tips:\n\n• If you start to feel concerns about a person, phone call or message, trust your instincts and try to remove yourself as quickly as possible from the potential threat, even if it feels awkward to do so.\n\n• If you feel you are being followed, try to get the attention of people nearby, run/walk to a well-lit or more populated area, and call 911 to ask for help.\n\n• You are not obligated to provide your personal or sensitive information to anyone if you don't feel comfortable doing so.\n\n• Do not hesitate to contact UCPD to report any concerning persons, messages, or activities.\n\n• If you are in fear for your safety or the safety of others, call 911 immediately.\n\nUCPD shares these Safety Tips while recognizing that perpetrators, and not the victims or survivors, are solely responsible for their actions.\n\nAdditional Resources\n\n• Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) provides individual counseling, group counseling, and wellness opportunities to students. Call (805) 893-4411 or submit a CAPS Services Request Form. 24/7 phone counseling is available by calling (805) 893-4411. CAPS website: caps.sa.ucsb.edu.\n\n• The Academic & Staff Assistance Program (ASAP) offers short-term counseling, consultation, wellness workshops, and assistance with threat management to faculty and staff. Call (805) 893-3318 to schedule an appointment. ASAP website: www.hr.ucsb.edu/hr-units/employee-services/asap.\n\n• The UCSB Police Department's CSO Safety Escort Program is a free service provided to members of the UCSB community as a safe alternative to walking alone at night. Call (805)893-2000 to request a CSO escort. For more information: https://www.police.ucsb.edu/cso/cso-safety-escorts.\n\n**UCPD encourages printing and posting of this Timely Warning for further community notification.**", "isVerbatimConfirmed": true, "sourceDescription": "UCSB Police Department Timely Warning (official)", "annotations": [ "The alert includes a content warning for stalking descriptions, a practice that has become increasingly common at UC campuses and reflects trauma-informed communication practices", "Unlike many stalking timely warnings which omit suspect details to protect the victim, this alert provides a detailed physical description because the suspect was unknown to the victim", "The behavior described, offering to pay someone to meet after unsolicited contact, represents a non-traditional stalking pattern that differs from the repeated following behavior more commonly associated with campus stalking cases", "The timely warning was issued May 16, 2024, covering two reported stalking incidents on consecutive days (May 13 outside HSSB and May 14 outside Theater and Dance West) by the same suspect", "Aggregating multiple incidents into a single timely warning is standard practice when a single perpetrator is implicated in a course of conduct" ], "characterCount": 4016 } ], "context": "UCSB's [stalking timely warning of May 16, 2024](https://www.police.ucsb.edu/alerts/timely-warning-content-warning-message-includes-descriptions-stalking) is notable for including a content warning at the top of the message, a practice that emerged at UC campuses following student advocacy for trauma-informed communication. The warning bundled two reported incidents on consecutive days: May 13 outside the Humanities and Social Sciences Building (HSSB) at approximately 7:00 PM PDT and May 14 outside Theater and Dance West at approximately 4:00 PM PDT, both by [the same described suspect](https://dailynexus.com/2024-05-16/stalker-at-large-asks-students-for-number-offers-money-to-meet-ucpd-reports/) who asked victims for their phone number and then offered money to meet. HSSB is a central academic building on the UCSB campus and is frequently occupied during evening hours. This incident occurred less than a month after a separate [attempted abduction and sexual assault](https://www.independent.com/2024/04/25/attempted-abduction-and-sexual-assault-alleged-at-uc-santa-barbara/) was reported near the campus Labyrinth on April 20, 2024, heightening campus safety concerns during the spring quarter. Stalking was added to the list of Clery-reportable offenses by the [Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_Against_Women_Act#2013_reauthorization), and UCSB's alert reflects the evolving practices for communicating these incidents.", "keyFindings": [ "Content warnings on timely warning notifications represent an emerging practice at UC campuses that balances Clery compliance with trauma-informed communication", "Stalking timely warnings for incidents involving unknown suspects can include detailed physical descriptions, unlike those involving known individuals where victim privacy is the priority", "The offering-to-pay behavior pattern illustrates how stalking under the Clery Act encompasses a broader range of conduct than the popular conception of following or surveillance", "UCSB's May 16, 2024 timely warning aggregated two stalking reports on consecutive days (May 13 HSSB and May 14 Theater and Dance West) into a single notification, standard practice when a single suspect is implicated in a course of conduct" ], "sources": [ { "title": "UCSB Police Department Timely Warning - Stalking", "url": "https://www.police.ucsb.edu/alerts/timely-warning-content-warning-message-includes-descriptions-stalking", "type": "official-archive" }, { "title": "Stalker at large asks students for number, offers money to meet, UCPD reports (Daily Nexus)", "url": "https://dailynexus.com/2024-05-16/stalker-at-large-asks-students-for-number-offers-money-to-meet-ucpd-reports/", "type": "student-newspaper" }, { "title": "Attempted Abduction and Sexual Assault Alleged at UC Santa Barbara", "url": "https://www.independent.com/2024/04/25/attempted-abduction-and-sexual-assault-alleged-at-uc-santa-barbara/", "type": "local-media" } ], "confidence": "high", "tags": [ "stalking", "timely-warning", "content-warning", "vawa", "california", "uc-system" ], "dateAdded": "2026-04-04", "lastUpdated": "2026-07-17", "addedBy": "ingestion" }