Dear UMB Community:

This week, we published a story on The Elm website that examines crimes that occurred on our campus in 2024. I am pleased to share that the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) remains one of the safest places in downtown Baltimore to live, work, and learn thanks to our proactive, data-driven strategies and community-oriented approach to policing. 

While I hope you will read the whole article, I want to highlight a few key findings:

• Crime has consistently fallen over the past three years, with few exceptions.
• Theft of unsecured property is the top crime every year. You can help prevent theft by locking up your valuables. Never leave wallets, phones, computers, or other high-value items unattended. 
• An increase in stolen vehicles follows a national trend of Kia and Hyundai vehicle thefts.

UMB Police and Public Safety will give away free steering wheel locks at the SMC Campus Center on March 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. while supplies last. Everyone is eligible to receive a free lock — not just Kia and Hyundai owners. Locks are limited to one per person and cannot be picked up for others.

It’s been 50 years since police officers joined UMB Public Safety. I’m proud to see how far we’ve come and look forward to continued innovation. We hope you’ll join our yearlong celebration, which includes historical photos and stories from the UMB Archive, opportunities to recognize members of our team who make a difference in our community, and much more. 

Sincerely,

Thomas Leone, MSL
Assistant Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police