Burglaries were up by 50% and drug violations were at a record zero — for the first time in UPD history — according to University Police’s 2024-25 annual security report released on Oct. 1. Motor vehicle thefts, which include electronic bicycles and scooters, have gone down from 25 in 2023 to ten in 2024.
By federal law, the university is required to provide an annual security and fire safety report of violent and non-violent crime statistics on the North, South and Downtown campuses and off-campus crime involving UB students. The increase of burglaries during the 2024-25 academic year can be attributed to repeat offenders and elevated charges as a result of non-student status, according to Deputy Chief of Police for Investigations Carl Lundin.
“For example, a larceny can become a burglary because you have no right to be on university property,” Lundin said.
On-campus incidents had spiked last fall. UPD reported a string of nine catalytic converter thefts from residential parking lots on UB’s North campus last September; two cars at Creekside Village were broken into a month later.
Two students were robbed near Creekside Village early October where the robbers had taken a student’s cell phone and wallet and a jacket from the other. “A number of belongings were stolen” from a Creekside Village apartment three weeks after the incident, resulting in the arrest of a 21-year-old Buffalo resident who was not affiliated with UB.
The burglary and robbery were isolated incidents, police said at the time.
Along with drug violations hitting 0, reports of liquor violations have decreased by over 55% compared to reports in 2023.
Lundin says this change can be attributed to nationwide decrease in alcohol consumption amongst college students, citing the 2025 “Monitoring the Future Panel Study,” conducted by the University of Michigan.
“In 2024, past-month consumption prevalence rates reached new historic low levels,” Lundin said. “Since 1991, annual consumption among college students declined 15% proportionally, while monthly consumption has declined 27% proportionately. Binge drinking declined 49%.”
UB has also seen a decrease in reports of domestic and dating violence, according to the report.
There were eight reports of domestic violence and seven reports of dating violence, almost a 50% decrease in both. Reports of stalking have also gone down from three reported instances in 2023 to one in 2024.
Reports of rape have increased by 75% yearly since 2022, while reports of fondling have wavered slightly. UPD saw six reports of rape and eight reports of fondling in 2024, compared to four reports of rape and five reports of fondling in 2023.
“Unfortunately, we will never know the true percentages that are not reported to us as these crimes can often go unreported,” Lundin said.
UPD encourages anyone that were victims of domestic violence or unwanted sexual contact to report it and seek help through campus resources. Reports can be made to UPD directly through phone call or submitting an anonymous form online.
Members of the UB community can report any crimes by calling the University Police Department at 716-645-2222, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Nadia Bangaroo is the assistant news editor and can be reached at nadia.bangaroo@ubspectrum.com
