The University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department (UWPD) and Madison Police Department (MPD) are investigating several electric scooter thefts across campus and in downtown Madison.
Authorities received four reports of on-campus e-scooter thefts and one downtown Madison e-scooter theft between Sept. 19 and Sept. 28, according to a campus-wide crime warning email Tuesday morning.
UWPD spokesperson Mark Levicott told The Daily Cardinal in an email he had no further information on potential suspects or whether or not the crimes are connected.
“We typically see thefts increase this time of year as the weather is still nice and more people are out and about on bikes and scooters,” Levicott said. “These are what we call crimes of opportunity — when a suspect sees something of value that's easily accessible, they take action.”
Lovicott added that the suspects UWPD posted pictures of to its Instagram on Tuesday are not related to the recent thefts.
The crime warning is the second email from the university addressing micromobility thefts since the beginning of the academic year. In early September, the department reported three electric scooters and bikes thefts around campus between Aug. 27 and Sept. 2.
Levicott told the Cardinal UWPD is still searching for suspects in that case.
In 2025, thieves stole 69 motor vehicles — 47 being e-bikes, e-scooters or e-skateboards — in campus-related incidents, according to the 2026 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. Of those, 49 occurred on-campus, one occurred in student housing, two on public property and 17 on non-campus property.
The increase in thefts represents an approximately 86% rise in motor vehicle thefts — from 37 in 2024 and 40 in 2023.
UWPD recommends students park in a secure, well-lit area, and purchase a quality lock — such as a U-Lock — as cheaper, chain-and-cable locks can be easily cut. They also recommend recording identification information.
Ted Hyngstrom is a staff writer. He formerly served as the Podcast Editor, and has covered a variety of city and campus issues. You can follow him on X at @NuffTed.
