UMass Police investigating 5 Peeping Tom incidents on campus

UMass Amherst campus

UMass Amherst campus

By Staff Report

Published: 09-26-2024 12:08 PM

AMHERST — University of Massachusetts Police are investigating five reports from residents at two Orchard Hill dormitories about a man who has looked at and possibly recorded female students while showering.

UMass Police this week issued a crime alert about the incidents that were reported on Sept. 16, 17 and 18 in Grayson and Field halls.

The first report of Peeping Tom behavior came on Sept. 16 at 11:19 p.m., and was treated as an isolated incident, according to police. Then, a second report was received the following day at 3:40 p.m., when a man was seen looking at, and possibly attempting to use a cellphone to photograph or record over the top of shower curtains in the bathroom on the third floor at Field.

The third report, received Sept. 18 at 2:22 a.m. for an incident on the seventh floor of Grayson, provided police a description of the suspect as a white man, college-age, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall, with short brownish-blond hair, wearing maroon shorts and a black hooded sweatshirt.

All three reports indicate the party had a cellphone used to take pictures or video.

After crime alerts notices were posted in the Grayson and Field buildings, two more incidents involving the same behavior were received, one that occurred Sept. 17 at 1 a.m. on the sixth floor at Field, the other Sept. 18 at 1 a.m on the fifth floor at Grayson.

Residents in campus dorms are encouraged to report any similar suspicious behavior to police. Anyone with more information can contact police at 545-2121 or online at https://www.umass.edu/umpd/anonymous-witness-form

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