TCU scooter theft accounts for around 14% of incidents reported to TCUPD

By Fabian Alvidrez, Staff Writer

Published Sep 26, 2025

A scooter parked outside of Moudy North with a wheel lock. According to the TCU Police crime log, 17 scooters have been reported stolen since Aug. 15, 2025. (Fabian Alvidrez/Staff Writer)

Scooter theft is one of the most reported campus crimes, according to the TCU Police Department’s daily crime log.

Scooter prices range from around $150 to $500, according to online retailers such as Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy, with some costing more than $1,500. With scooters being a major target for theft as well as a valuable item, students may want to take certain security measures.

Most incidents occurred near the Walsh Athletic Center and King Hall. As of Aug. 8, 2025, eight scooters had been reported stolen from the Walsh and Justin Athletic Centers and three from King Hall, with as many as three reports of scooter theft in a single day.

The thefts prompted Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety, Adrian Andrews, to email a warning to students and urge them to take preventive measures to safeguard their scooters.

Andrews also suggested that students visit the police station to have their scooters permanently etched for free. Etching the scooters makes them more identifiable and links them to the student via their student ID. They etch the frame of the scooter, one of the sides and below the floor plate.

“The etching process was super smooth. It took three to five easy minutes,” said Isaac Carney, a junior kinesiology major who frequently commutes by scooter. “They told me if I got the etching, then campus police would be able to identify the scooter if it was stolen.”

A TCU map displays the locations of 17 scooters reported stolen between August and September 2025. The majority of scooter thefts have been reported near the athletic facilities, King Hall and South University Drive. (Fabian Alvidrez)

Students should also keep track of their scooter’s factory serial number, which is located under the frame of many scooters. Including a serial number in a report allows police to enter stolen scooters into the national stolen property database. This makes it easier to share information with other agencies, such as the Fort Worth Police Department.

Should scooters be recovered away from the TCU campus, police departments will still be able to cooperate and be aware that the property is stolen.

Other preventive measures include properly locking scooters or adding tracking devices.

Most reported scooter thefts remain either pending or unfounded, indicating that investigations are ongoing. As investigations continue, Andrews encourages cooperation between students and police to help resolve campus-wide theft.