Dear Members of the Drexel Community,
Drexel Police and Philadelphia Police are currently investigating a motor vehicle theft that occurred at 1:30 a.m. on September 23, 2023, on the 3200 Block of Arch Street. The victim, a delivery driver, left their vehicle unattended and running, while making a delivery. Drexel Police’s investigation has identified a vehicle of interest, a dark-colored Kia Carnival, that was last seen traveling north on 32nd Street around the time of the crime.
Drexel Police and Philadelphia Police are continuing to investigate the matter; no arrests have been made.
Drexel Public Safety provides the following general information about preventing motor vehicle thefts in our community:
If you are the victim of a motor vehicle theft
Contact the Drexel Police Department at 215.895.222 or Philadelphia Police at 9-1-1 and be prepared to provide the following:
- License plate number and vehicle year, make, model, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and color;
- Date, time, location you last saw your vehicle;
- Date and time you discovered your vehicle missing; and
- Advise if you subscribe to a vehicle-tracking service, such as Lojack or OnStar.
General safety considerations:
- Always lock your vehicle, close all windows and sunroof, and take your keys.
- Never leave your vehicle running when unattended.
- Park in busy, well-lit areas. Pick a parking spot where there is a lot of activity. Auto thieves prefer breaking into cars in isolated areas.
- Alarms or anti-theft devices work. Thieves are usually looking for the easiest target. If your car has an alarm or other anti-theft device, it could act as a deterrent, but don’t make the common mistake of assuming that because you have an alarm or anti-theft device, thieves won’t break in.
- Install a vehicle-tracking and location system that can be activated after the vehicle is reported as stolen.
- Don’t leave spare keys in or on your vehicle. An experienced thief knows all the hiding places. Store spare keys elsewhere, such as your wallet or purse.
Safety Tips
Drexel Public Safety encourages students, faculty and staff to be alert, take precautions, and report crimes and suspicious activities. Your efforts to stay well-informed and take preventive action will help in maintaining the safest possible environment on Drexel’s campuses.
Police are reminding everyone to be aware of their surroundings, to not have cell phones and other valuables visible, and to walk with others when possible. Do not leave vehicles unlocked or running with the keys inside.
Members of the Drexel community may call Public Safety for a walking escort at 215.895.2222 or use the Drexel Guardian app. Crime prevention and awareness tips can be found on the Public Safety website.
Any suspicious activity should immediately be reported to Philadelphia police by calling 911 or Drexel police by calling 215.895.2222.
Sincerely,
Mel Singleton
Vice President/Chief of Police
Department of Public Safety
What is this Notice?
The Clery Act requires institutions of higher education to assess certain crimes and issue a timely warning when a crime is reported that poses a serious or on-going threat to the campus community, faculty, staff, and/or visitors. Timely Warnings are intended to prevent similar crimes and to provide information that will assist community members in protecting themselves. Drexel Public Safety makes the decision to issue a timely warning notice on a case-by-case basis for the following crimes: homicide, sex offenses (rape, fondling, incest and statutory rape), robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and hate crimes, as defined by the Clery Act.