Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

I am writing to update the Villanova community regarding a situation that occurred on campus in October 2021. At that time, a Safety Alert was issued notifying the community that an unknown male broke into an unoccupied student room in Good Counsel Hall over the fall semester break. Following that incident, the University took steps to enhance the security on South Campus, including increased lighting and CCTV cameras, cutting back foliage and shrubbery near buildings, and increased patrols of the area. The University also added License Plate Reader (LPR) technology to South Campus, the I-1 Parking Garage and other main entrances to campus.

In May 2022, I sent a notice to campus that an individual was arrested for loitering outside Caughlin Hall, and that our investigation revealed that this individual, Eugene Hammen, was also the individual from the October incident. He was subsequently charged by the Villanova University Police Department with Burglary, Invasion of Privacy, Loitering and Prowling at Night, and Possession of Instruments of Crime.

Earlier this summer, our investigation yielded additional information showing that Hammen had taken photographs of female students from outside residence halls on South Campus. Those individuals affected have been identified and were notified by Villanova Police. Due to all of the circumstances surrounding this case, as well as the fact that Hammen is currently not incarcerated, his name and photograph are being disseminated to the campus community at this time. Hammen, age 40, from Newtown, PA, has no affiliation with the University and has been issued a no-trespass order to stay off University property. In both incidents, he was driving a 2014 dark blue Ford Transit van with PA Registration KFA1486. (Photos below.)

While we have no information to suggest that he has returned to campus since his arrest in May, we urge anyone who sees Hammen on University property to immediately contact the Department of Public Safety by calling 610-519-4444.

The patrol efforts and investigative work of the Villanova Police Department helped lead to Hammen’s arrest last May. We continue our ongoing commitment to the safety of campus, ensuring that it is a safe place to live, learn and work. We also ask that particularly our resident students take the appropriate precautions, such as closing your blinds and ensuring your room is locked, and that the entire campus community remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior or other safety concerns to the Department of Public Safety.

Sincerely,

David G. Tedjeske

Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police