UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As an update to the Sept. 30 police advisory seeking the public’s assistance to verify third-party reports of males harassing females at University Park and in State College, police advise that investigators have no verified reports of attempted abductions or assaults as described in recent social media posts.
Authorities have confirmed one incident of harassment and several other reported incidents are non-criminal in nature. None of the incidents appear to be related at this time. Most of the reports were made after police issued the initial advisory on this matter, in some cases out of caution based upon the police advisory.
Investigators are grateful to those who have come forward to report their experiences. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone who may witness suspicious or criminal activity should report it immediately and directly to Penn State police at 814-863-1111 or State College police at 814-234-7150.
Authorities ask the public to avoid reporting criminal activity through social media. Report all crimes and tips through official channels. Call 911 for immediate assistance.
Police also remind the public that sharing unverified information on social media related to public safety can create unnecessary worry and panic, and in some instances, wrongly target individuals. Authorities encourage the public to seek out official sources for accurate information.
As a reminder, Penn State students and employees can avoid walking alone from dusk to dawn by calling 814-865-9255 and a University Police and Public Safety employee can escort them to their on-campus destination.