Archived NIU Safety Notifications

Incident:	Safety Warning - Aggravated Assault - 200 block of Castle Drive - East Lagoon - On Campus
Date Occurred:	May 25, 2026
Location:	200 block of Castle Drive - East Lagoon
Details:	The NIU Police Department is investigating a report of an Aggravated Assault that occurred on Monday, May 25, 2026 at approximately 1:15 AM, in the 200 block of Castle Drive. The victim reported he was assaulted with a knife while walking by an individual on a bicycle. The suspect is described as follows: Caucasian male with short black hair and a beard, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and gray pants. The suspect fled northwest from scene by bicycle prior to law enforcement arrival. Please avoid or take necessary precautions while in the area. If you have any information related to this incident or if you witness any suspicious activity, please get to a safe location and report it immediately to the NIU Department of Police and Public Safety at 815-753-1212, or the DeKalb Police Department at 815-748-8400. Witnesses may remain anonymous by calling 815-753-TIPS (8477). In an emergency, please call 911. Suspicious activity may also be reported through the NIU Safe App. The app is now available for download in the Apple Store and Google Play. See go.niu.edu/niusafe for more details about the app.
Safety Tips and Resources :	Our campus, our community. The Northern Illinois University campus is a safe one, but a large university campus and its surrounding community will not be crime free. NIU and DeKalb Police and other partner law enforcement agencies work together to prevent crime and to quickly identify and arrest offenders when crime occurs. You, too, play a very important role in keeping our campus and community safe. Be alert, and trust your instincts. Be aware of your surroundings. If a situation doesn’t feel right, it probably isn't. Contact police if something looks suspicious or out of place. Any information, no matter how small, can contribute to preventing a crime. Watch out for each other. Don’t be a bystander. Call 911 immediately if you or someone else is in danger. If you hear or see a fire alarm, leave the building immediately. Just because you cannot see flames or smoke does not mean you are safe – a fire or other hazard could be in another part of the building and rapidly spread to where you are. Please take a moment to review the Campus Safety resources below to stay informed and keep yourself and others safe on and off campus. Stay Safe Learn how to protect yourself from crime on and off campus. Use Our Safety Services From transportation to safety classes, take advantage of the programs we have to protect your safety. Read Our FAQs Get your questions answered about how NIU manages campus safety. Report Your Concerns Report areas on campus that need attentions. Emergency Information Subscribe to campus safety bulletins and find emergency information.

Incident:	Community Awareness Bulletin - Shots Fired - 1000 Block of Ridge Drive
Date Occurred:	May 07, 2026
Location:	1000 Block of Ridge Drive
Details:	The DeKalb Police Department are investigating shots fired in the 1000 block of Ridge Drive. Please avoid the area while officers investigate.
Safety Tips and Resources :	Our campus, our community. The Northern Illinois University campus is a safe one, but a large university campus and its surrounding community will not be crime free. NIU and DeKalb Police and other partner law enforcement agencies work together to prevent crime and to quickly identify and arrest offenders when crime occurs. You, too, play a very important role in keeping our campus and community safe. Be alert, and trust your instincts. Be aware of your surroundings. If a situation doesn’t feel right, it probably isn't. Contact police if something looks suspicious or out of place. Any information, no matter how small, can contribute to preventing a crime. Watch out for each other. Don’t be a bystander. Call 911 immediately if you or someone else is in danger. If you hear or see a fire alarm, leave the building immediately. Just because you cannot see flames or smoke does not mean you are safe – a fire or other hazard could be in another part of the building and rapidly spread to where you are. Please take a moment to review the Campus Safety resources below to stay informed and keep yourself and others safe on and off campus. Stay Safe Learn how to protect yourself from crime on and off campus. Use Our Safety Services From transportation to safety classes, take advantage of the programs we have to protect your safety. Read Our FAQs Get your questions answered about how NIU manages campus safety. Report Your Concerns Report areas on campus that need attentions. Emergency Information Subscribe to campus safety bulletins and find emergency information.

Incident:	Safety Warning - Criminal Sexual Assault - Residence Hall (West Side of Campus) - On-Campus
Date Occurred:	February 06, 2026
Location:	Residence Hall (West Side of Campus) - On-Campus
Details:	The NIU Police Department is investigating a report of sexual assault that occurred on Friday, February 6, 2026, at approximately 3:00 PM. The incident took place in a residence hall room on the west side of campus by an individual the victim met on social media. Please see below for a list of safety tips and resources.
Safety Tips and Resources :	Our campus, our community. The Northern Illinois University campus is a safe one, but a large university campus and its surrounding community will not be crime free. Sexual assault is a significant concern among colleges and universities across the country. All members of the NIU community – administrators, faculty, staff, students and friends of the university – must work together to support a safe and respectful community that is free of sexual violence or misconduct. The university community has a collective responsibility to support individuals who have experienced sexual violence and/or intervene when in a safe position to do so to prevent situations that seem unsafe to others. NIU and DeKalb Police and other partner law enforcement agencies work together to prevent crime and to quickly identify and arrest offenders when crime occurs. You, too, play a very important role in keeping our campus and community safe. Be alert, and trust your instincts. Be aware of your surroundings. If a situation doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. Contact police if something looks suspicious or out of place. Any information, no matter how small, can contribute to preventing a crime. Watch out for each other. Don't be a bystander. While it is the individual's decision to report a crime to police, stepping forward to report a crime is very effective tool to crime prevention. For information on reporting an incident of sexual violence or sexual misconduct, please visit https://go.niu.edu/report-sexual-assault Call 911 immediately if you or someone else is in danger. Contact police if something looks suspicious or out of place. Any information, no matter how small, can contribute to preventing a crime. For more information on sexual assault resources at NIU, please visit https://www.niu.edu/sexualmisconduct/ Additional Campus Safety resources are available below to stay informed and keep yourself and others safe on and off campus. Stay Safe Learn how to protect yourself from crime on and off campus. Use Our Safety Services From transportation to safety classes, take advantage of the programs we have to protect your safety. Emergency Information Subscribe to campus safety bulletins and find emergency information.
About Safety Bulletins:	NIU Safety Bulletins are based on information that has been reported to Northern Illinois University Police and Public Safety. The reported information may not have been investigated or confirmed at the time the Safety Bulletin was issued. Safety Bulletins will be issued via NIU email, Everbridge app and social media when an incident occurs that should be brought to the immediate attention of the University community. 0;Physical descriptions of a suspect, including race, are included in NIU Safety Bulletins only when they provide several details that might help distinguish the suspect's appearance from the general population.

Incident:	Safety Warning - Thefts of Electric Scooters
Date Occurred:	October 07, 2025
Location:	Residence hall bike racks, academic buildings, and the Holmes Student Center
Details:	Multiple thefts of electric scooters (E-scooters) have recently been reported around campus (8/29/25 - 10/6/25). These thefts occurred at various locations including residence hall bike racks, academic buildings, and the Holmes Student Center. In each reported incident, scooters were either left unsecured or secured with easily removable locks. The suspects in these cases have not yet been identified, and investigations are ongoing. If you have any information related to the thefts or witness any suspicious activity, please get to a safe location and report it immediately to the NIU Department of Police and Public Safety at 815-753-1212, or the DeKalb Police Department at 815-748-8400. Witnesses may remain anonymous by calling 815-753-TIPS (8477). In an emergency, please call 911. Suspicious activity may also be reported through the NIU Safe App. The app is now available for download in the Apple Store and Google Play. See go.niu.edu/niusafe for more details about the app. SAFETY TIPS and PREVENTION To help prevent further incidents, the NIU Department of Public Safety recommends the following: - Always secure your E-scooter using a high-quality U-lock or chain lock. - Park in well-lit, designated scooter or bike areas. - Report suspicious activity immediately to campus police at 815-753-1212. - Consider using GPS tracking devices for high-value items like E-scooters. - If your scooter is stolen, report it immediately to the NIU Department of Police and Public Safety and provide identifying information (make, model, serial number, color, etc.).
Safety Tips and Resources:	Our campus, our community. The Northern Illinois University campus is a safe one, but a large university campus and its surrounding community will not be crime free. Sexual assault is a significant concern among colleges and universities across the country. All members of the NIU community – administrators, faculty, staff, students and friends of the university – must work together to support a safe and respectful community that is free of sexual violence or misconduct. The university community has a collective responsibility to support individuals who have experienced sexual violence and/or intervene when in a safe position to do so to prevent situations that seem unsafe to others. NIU and DeKalb Police and other partner law enforcement agencies work together to prevent crime and to quickly identify and arrest offenders when crime occurs. You, too, play a very important role in keeping our campus and community safe. Be alert, and trust your instincts. Be aware of your surroundings. If a situation doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. Contact police if something looks suspicious or out of place. Any information, no matter how small, can contribute to preventing a crime. Watch out for each other. Don't be a bystander. While it is the individual's decision to report a crime to police, stepping forward to report a crime is very effective tool to crime prevention. For information on reporting an incident of sexual violence or sexual misconduct, please visit https://go.niu.edu/report-sexual-assault Call 911 immediately if you or someone else is in danger. Contact police if something looks suspicious or out of place. Any information, no matter how small, can contribute to preventing a crime. For more information on sexual assault resources at NIU, please visit https://www.niu.edu/sexualmisconduct/ Additional Campus Safety resources are available below to stay informed and keep yourself and others safe on and off campus. Stay Safe Learn how to protect yourself from crime on and off campus. Use Our Safety Services From transportation to safety classes, take advantage of the programs we have to protect your safety. Emergency Information Subscribe to campus safety bulletins and find emergency information.
About Safety Bulletins:	The Northern Illinois University campus is a safe one, but a large university campus and its surrounding community will not be crime free. NIU and DeKalb Police and other partner law enforcement agencies work together to prevent crime and to quickly identify and arrest offenders when crime occurs. You, too, play a very important role in keeping our campus and community safe. NIU Safety Notifications are based on information that has been reported to Northern Illinois University Police and Public Safety. The reported information may not have been investigated or confirmed at the time the Safety Notification was issued. Safety Notifications will be issued via email and posted to our website when an incident occurs that should be brought to the immediate attention of the university community. Physical descriptions of a suspect, including race, are included in NIU Safety Notifications only when they provide several details that might help distinguish the suspect's appearance from the general population. See more information on the types of notifications.

Incident:	Update: Community Awareness Bulletin - Telephone System Changeover
Date Occurred:	January 07, 2025
Location:	Phone lines
Details:	Update 1/7/25, 11:02 AM The NIU Police Department phone lines are now fully operational. Please contact us at 815-753-1212 if you need non-emergency assistance. 9-1-1 continues to function as normal. -------------------------- The NIU Police Department will be making changes to their phone system on Tuesday, January 7th, at 9:00 a.m. The changes are expected to last approximately 60-minutes. During that time, please direct all non-emergency calls to 815-375-8497. 9-1-1 remains fully functional and can be used for emergency calls only. An update will be sent once our non-emergency phone lines are fully functional again. Thank you!

Incident:

Update: Community Awareness Bulletin - Telephone System Changeover

Date Occurred:

January 07, 2025

Location:

Phone lines

Details:

Update 1/7/25, 11:02 AM
The NIU Police Department phone lines are now fully operational. Please contact us at 815-753-1212 if you need non-emergency assistance. 9-1-1 continues to function as normal.

--------------------------

The NIU Police Department will be making changes to their phone system on Tuesday, January 7th, at 9:00 a.m. The changes are expected to last approximately 60-minutes. During that time, please direct all non-emergency calls to 815-375-8497. 9-1-1 remains fully functional and can be used for emergency calls only. An update will be sent once our non-emergency phone lines are fully functional again. Thank you!

Emergency Information

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In case of emergency: Call 911

Non-emergency phone number: 815-753-1212

Records: 815-753-9628

Department email: niupd@niu.edu

Records request email: niupdrecords@niu.edu

Archived NIU Safety Notifications

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