Lock your vehicle. Watch out for anything out of the ordinary. The Lab has had three trespassers in the past few weeks. One tried to take a GEM out for a spin. Another danced on the cafeteria roof.
Trespasser #1 was wandering the Lab for about two hours. She used a restroom sink to take a bath before she climbed onto the cafeteria roof to start dancing. Employees who were setting up the Lab’s temporary Emergency Operations Center noticed her and called Security.
Trespasser #2 was found by the fire tank above Building 85. Security noticed him on camera and made contact.
Trespasser #3 broke into a shuttle bus and took a tablet, then entered personal unlocked vehicles by the fire station. He tried to drive off in a GEM, but it was plugged in so it wouldn’t start. He potentially pulled a fire alarm at Building 61 before heading to Building 74. There, he found another unlocked GEM, and since it wasn’t plugged in, he was able to start it. He was having trouble getting it into reverse when Security arrived to stop him.
Most likely the three trespassers came through one section of the Lab’s fence line. The fence in that area is older and there is a gap between the gate and the fence that is large enough for a person to slip through. The gap has been closed, security patrols have been increased in the area, and additional cameras have been added to cover the area.
The good news: all three were discovered by the Lab’s security team and escorted off the property by UC Berkeley Police, who provide law enforcement services to the Lab.
Even better news: There is a fence study underway to look at the fencing all around the Lab so these events don’t become more common.
But what should you do to protect yourself and your belongings?
- Lock your personal vehicle.
- Put valuables out of sight.
- Do not leave keys to a GEM or a government vehicle in the ignition or hidden inside.
- If you see something or someone that concerns you call the Lab’s Site Operations Center at 510-486-6999 to report your concerns. They will dispatch a security officer to that location.