Motor Vehicle (Electric Scooter) Theft

This email is being sent to the campus community as a Timely Warning regarding crimes that occurred on campus property. The following is provided for your personal safety.

Over the past two days, the UCSB Police Department received multiple reports of thefts of electric scooters (e-scooters). The thefts occurred within a 36-hour period, between June 2 and June 4, 2025.

On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, UCPD received a report that an e-scooter was stolen from the Arbor between 10:00 p.m. on June 2, 2025, and 2:00 a.m. on June 3, 2025. This e-scooter was later recovered by UCPD.

A second e-scooter was reported stolen on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. This e-scooter was taken from Portola Dining Commons between 6:00 p.m. on June 3, 2025, and 11:00 am on June 4, 2025. This e-scooter has not been recovered at this time. 

The third e-scooter was reported stolen on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. This e-scooter was taken from Ortega Dining Commons between 10:27 and 10:40 am on June 4, 2025. This e-scooter was later recovered by UCPD.

UCPD receives multiple reports of electric bike, electric scooter, and bicycle thefts throughout the year.  We encourage everyone to read and practice the safety tips offered below. These safety tips reduce the risk of your e-bike, e-scooter, or bicycle being stolen and aid officers in their attempt to locate your bike should it be stolen.

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.  If you believe you’ve located a stolen e-bike, call the UCSB Police Department; do not engage or make contact with anyone who might be involved. 

UCPD reminds the campus community of the following: 

Safety Tips

  • Register your bicycle by visiting UCPD or going online to https://www.police.ucsb.edu/cso/bicycle-registration
  • Use a bike lock and park in well-lit, busy areas, as thieves prefer stealing e-mobility devices from isolated areas
  • Document e-mobility devices and bicycles, including their make/model, serial number, color, any unique or identifying features, along with a photograph
  • Consider mounting a gps tracker on your device
  • Immediately report all suspicious persons, vehicles, and activities to the UCSB Police Department at (805) 893-3446


UCPD shares these Safety Tips while recognizing that perpetrators, and not the victims, are solely responsible for their actions.

Resources


**UCPD encourages printing and posting of this Timely Warning for further community notification.**
 

WHAT IS THIS NOTICE?  
In compliance with the Clery Act, Timely Warnings are issued by the UCSB Police Department when certain (Clery Act) crimes occurring on campus property, properties controlled by campus-affiliated organizations, or public property immediately adjacent to campus are determined to be a serious or continuing threat to the campus community. Timely Warnings are intended to prevent similar crimes and to provide information that will assist community members in protecting themselves.