Campus Alert Archive
Columbia Chicago

ATM and cash-app robbery near 517 South State

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Campus Safety issued a March 13 Crime Advisory after an offender compelled a victim near Epic Burger to withdraw ATM funds and send a cash-app transfer.

Alerts
1
Response
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Killed
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Injured
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Institution
Columbia College Chicago
Private Bachelors · IL
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Campus Safety Alert
Official alert policy
Read when and how Columbia Chicago says it will use its alert system: summarized, quoted, and analyzed.
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Confirmed wording is transcribed character-for-character from a primary source. Use Verify this quote under each message to open that source in a new tab and compare the text yourself.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Verified verbatim709 chars
March 13, 2026 Columbia College Chicago Community: Crime Advisory The Chicago Police Department is investigating an incident that occurred on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m., near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street. An offender approached the victim seeking funds for a train ticket at the above location. The offender ultimately accompanied the victim to the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street, and then compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM and electronically transfer funds from a phone-based cash application. Anyone with additional information should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220 and the Chicago Police Department Detectives at 312-744-8263 referencing JK-177941.
Verify this quote
Campus Safety Crime Advisory PDFstudents.colum.edufind archived copies
Dual independent PDF fetch match 2026-08-23: 202484 bytes, sha256 136dd1534be484efbcf0d21ba176bba6b6e94d1ae76eef53e6c6e4fff574d17e.
Advisory body transcribed from the PDF text layer. Standing General Safety Precautions / SafeRide / OEMC / TipSubmit footer omitted as page chrome.
Incident date March 11; notice dated March 13. Distinct incident from 2026-03-10-columbia-college-chicago-subway-wabash-punch: different date, type, and location. Adjacent-date same institution, different type.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude Fable 5 (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

March 13, 2026 Columbia College Chicago Community: Crime Advisory The Chicago Police Department is investigating an incident that occurred on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m., near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street. An offender approached the victim seeking funds for a train ticket at the above location. The offender ultimately accompanied the victim to the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street, and then compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM and electronically transfer funds from a phone-based cash application. Anyone with additional information should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220 and the Chicago Police Department Detectives at 312-744-8263 referencing JK-177941.

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 passes found the source present, citing the "Columbia College Chicago Community" header together with the line "The Chicago Police Department is investigating" and the Campus Security contact numbers.

    Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: The sender context is the college community notice and it names "The Chicago Police Department is investigating".
    2. present: The sender is identified through "The Chicago Police Department is investigating" and the Columbia College Chicago Community address line.
    3. present: The message addresses the "Columbia College Chicago Community" and names "The Chicago Police Department" as the issuing authority on the case.
    4. present: The sender and authority are identified, "The Chicago Police Department is investigating" with the Columbia College Chicago heading.
    5. present: The sender authority is identified, "The Chicago Police Department is investigating", with Campus Security numbers.
    6. present: The authority is named, "The Chicago Police Department is investigating", addressed to the "Columbia College Chicago Community".
    7. present: The senders are identified, the notice addresses the "Columbia College Chicago Community" and states "The Chicago Police Department is investigating".
    8. present: The message identifies "The Chicago Police Department is investigating" and gives Campus Security's number as the issuer contact.
    9. present: The sender and authority are identified, the Columbia College Chicago Community header plus "The Chicago Police Department is investigating".
    10. present: The sender and authority are identified, Columbia College Chicago Community heading plus "The Chicago Police Department is investigating."
    11. present: The issuing authority appears as "The Chicago Police Department is investigating" with the Columbia College Chicago Community salutation.
    12. present: The issuing authority is named, "The Chicago Police Department is investigating", under the Columbia College Chicago Community header.
    13. present: It is addressed from the college community and names "The Chicago Police Department" and Campus Security as authorities.
    14. present: The senders are identified, "The Chicago Police Department is investigating" with contact routed through "Campus Security."
    15. present: The sender authority is named, "The Chicago Police Department is investigating", plus the Columbia College Campus Security number.
    16. present: The sender and authority are clear, the Columbia College Chicago advisory says "The Chicago Police Department is investigating".
    17. present: The issuing authority is stated, "The Chicago Police Department is investigating", addressed from the Columbia College Chicago community header.
    18. present: The senders are identified, "Columbia College Chicago Community" heading plus "The Chicago Police Department is investigating".
    19. present: The senders are identified, "Columbia College Chicago Community" with "The Chicago Police Department is investigating."
    20. present: The sender and authority are named, "The Chicago Police Department is investigating" with Campus Security's number.
    21. present: Source is clear, "The Chicago Police Department is investigating" with Campus Security contact numbers.
    22. present: The issuing authority is named, "The Chicago Police Department is investigating", under the college's heading.
    23. present: The issuing and investigating authorities are named, "The Chicago Police Department is investigating," plus Campus Security.
    24. present: The sender and authority are named, the "Columbia College Chicago Community" advisory says "The Chicago Police Department is investigating."
    25. present: The sender and authority are named, "The Chicago Police Department is investigating" and Campus Security.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 passes found the hazard present, a specifically described robbery-type crime in which the offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM" and transfer money via a cash application.

    What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: The hazard is a coerced robbery, the offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM".
    2. present: The crime is described specifically, the offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM", a robbery-type threat.
    3. present: The crime is specific, an offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM", a robbery style incident.
    4. present: The threat is a coerced robbery, the offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM."
    5. present: The crime is specific, an offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM", a robbery scheme.
    6. present: A specific crime is described, an offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM", a robbery or coerced theft.
    7. present: The crime is described specifically, the offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM", a robbery or coercion.
    8. present: The hazard is a specific robbery scheme, an offender who "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM".
    9. present: The threat is a specific robbery-type crime, an offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM".
    10. present: The hazard is a specific robbery scheme, the offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM."
    11. present: A robbery scheme is described specifically, the offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM."
    12. present: The hazard is a coerced robbery, the offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM".
    13. present: The crime is described specifically, the offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM", a robbery style offense.
    14. present: The hazard is a coerced robbery, the offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM."
    15. present: A robbery-type crime is specified, the offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM".
    16. present: The crime is described specifically, an offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM".
    17. present: The crime is described specifically, the offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM".
    18. present: The threat is described specifically, an offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM", a robbery or coercion crime.
    19. present: A specific robbery scheme is described, the offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM."
    20. present: The crime is specific, an offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM", a robbery or coercion.
    21. present: A specific crime is described, the offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM."
    22. present: A specific crime is described, the offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM".
    23. present: The crime is described specifically, the offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM."
    24. present: The crime is specific, an offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM," a robbery or extortion.
    25. present: The crime is described specifically, an offender "compelled the victim to withdraw funds from an ATM".
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 passes found the location present, with exact addresses given, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street".

    Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Specific addresses are given, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street".
    2. present: Locations are named, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street".
    3. present: Locations are named exactly, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street".
    4. present: Locations are specific, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street."
    5. present: Locations are named, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street".
    6. present: Locations are given, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street".
    7. present: It names precise locations, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street".
    8. present: Locations are precise, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street".
    9. present: Locations are explicit, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street".
    10. present: Locations are precise, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street."
    11. present: Locations are precise, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street."
    12. present: Specific locations are given, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street".
    13. present: Where is stated, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street", plus the 7-Eleven at "33 East Adams Street".
    14. present: Locations are specific, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street."
    15. present: Specific places are given, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street".
    16. present: Locations are named, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street".
    17. present: Locations are exact, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street".
    18. present: Locations are precise, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street".
    19. present: Locations are precise, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street."
    20. present: Locations are precise, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street".
    21. present: Locations are precise, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street."
    22. present: The location is precise, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street".
    23. present: Locations are exact, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street."
    24. present: Locations are precise, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street."
    25. present: Locations are precise, "near the Epic Burger, 517 South State Street" and "the 7-Eleven, 33 East Adams Street".
  • Guidancepresent20/25

    Final assessment

    20 of 25 counted the closing line, "Anyone with additional information should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220", as an instruction to recipients; the 5 dissenters read it as a tip request rather than protective guidance, but the majority scored the directive as guidance.

    The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: The closing line, "Anyone with additional information should contact Campus Security", asks for tips rather than telling recipients any protective action.
    2. present: Recipients with information "should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220", an instruction directed at them.
    3. present: There is an instruction to recipients, "Anyone with additional information should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220".
    4. present: An instruction is given, "Anyone with additional information should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220."
    5. present: There is an instruction to act, "should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220 and the Chicago Police Department Detectives".
    6. absent: The only ask is investigative, "Anyone with additional information should contact Campus Security", with no protective action for recipients.
    7. present: The instruction to recipients is that anyone with information "should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220".
    8. present: It instructs recipients, "Anyone with additional information should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220".
    9. absent: The closing line asks only for tips, "Anyone with additional information should contact Campus Security", which is not protective guidance to recipients.
    10. present: There is a direct instruction to readers, anyone with information "should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220."
    11. present: The instruction to recipients is "should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220."
    12. absent: The closing line, "Anyone with additional information should contact Campus Security", seeks tips rather than telling recipients how to protect themselves.
    13. present: Recipients with information "should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220", an instruction to act.
    14. present: The only instruction to recipients is to "contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220" with information, a directive but not a protective action.
    15. present: There is an instruction, anyone with information "should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220".
    16. present: Recipients are directed to act, "Anyone with additional information should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220".
    17. present: Recipients are told to "contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220", an instruction to act.
    18. present: An instruction to recipients is given, "Anyone with additional information should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220".
    19. present: There is an instruction to recipients, anyone with information "should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220."
    20. present: Recipients are instructed that anyone with information "should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220".
    21. absent: It only asks that people "with additional information should contact Campus Security," no protective instruction to recipients.
    22. present: An instruction is given, "Anyone with additional information should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220".
    23. present: An instruction is given, "Anyone with additional information should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220."
    24. present: Recipients are told anyone with information "should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220," an instruction to them.
    25. present: There is an instruction that "Anyone with additional information should contact Campus Security at 312-369-3220".
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 passes found the time present, the incident "occurred on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m.", with the notice itself dated March 13, 2026.

    When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: It states "on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m.".
    2. present: The incident time is stated, "March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m.".
    3. present: Timing appears as "March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m."
    4. present: The when is stated, "March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m."
    5. present: When is stated, "on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m.".
    6. present: The incident is dated and timed, it "occurred on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m.".
    7. present: The incident is dated "on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m.".
    8. present: When is stated, "on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m.".
    9. present: The message dates the incident precisely, "on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m.".
    10. present: The incident time is stated, "March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m."
    11. present: The time is given as "on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m."
    12. present: It states "March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m.".
    13. present: Timing is explicit, "on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m."
    14. present: The message dates the incident precisely, "on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m."
    15. present: The incident time is stated, "on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m."
    16. present: Timing is stated, "March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m.".
    17. present: It gives "March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m." for the incident.
    18. present: Time is stated, "March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m.".
    19. present: The timing is stated, "March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m."
    20. present: The incident is timed, "on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m.".
    21. present: The time is given, "on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m."
    22. present: Timing is stated, "on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m.".
    23. present: The message states it "occurred on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m."
    24. present: The incident is dated, "on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m."
    25. present: The time is stated, "on March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m.".
  • Impactabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 passes found impact absent, the advisory only narrates the completed crime against one victim and never states any ongoing danger, severity, or potential consequence to recipients.

    What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: The message narrates what happened but never conveys ongoing danger or potential harm to recipients.
    2. absent: The text narrates what happened but conveys no potential consequence or severity to the community.
    3. absent: No statement of severity or what the hazard could do to readers appears, it only recounts what happened to one victim.
    4. absent: The message never conveys severity or what could happen to recipients, only what occurred.
    5. absent: No statement of potential consequences or seriousness appears, only the narrative and contact information.
    6. absent: The advisory conveys no potential consequence or severity, only a factual recount of the incident.
    7. absent: There is no statement of severity or possible harm, the advisory only narrates the incident and requests information.
    8. absent: No statement of potential harm or severity appears, the text only recounts the completed incident.
    9. absent: Nothing states what the hazard could do or how serious it is, the advisory only narrates the completed crime.
    10. absent: The advisory never states potential harm or severity, it only narrates the completed incident.
    11. absent: Nothing conveys potential consequences or danger to readers, only the completed incident narrative.
    12. absent: Nothing conveys severity or potential harm, only a factual account of the crime is given.
    13. absent: No severity or potential harm is conveyed, the advisory only narrates what happened.
    14. absent: Nothing conveys severity or potential harm, the text recounts the crime without saying what risk remains.
    15. absent: The message conveys no potential harm or severity, only the facts of the incident.
    16. absent: The advisory never conveys potential harm or severity, it only recounts what happened.
    17. absent: There is no statement of potential harm or severity, only a factual account of the incident.
    18. absent: No severity or potential-consequence statement appears, only a factual account of the completed incident.
    19. absent: No statement of danger, severity, or possible consequences to readers appears anywhere in the text.
    20. absent: No potential harm or severity is stated, the advisory only recounts what happened.
    21. absent: Nothing conveys potential consequences or severity beyond narrating what happened.
    22. absent: The message describes what happened but never conveys potential consequences or severity to recipients.
    23. absent: Nothing conveys severity or potential harm, the text only narrates what happened to one victim.
    24. absent: The text never conveys severity or what the offender could do to others, it just narrates the completed incident.
    25. absent: The message narrates what happened but never states any ongoing danger, severity, or potential harm to recipients.

Coded by Claude Fable 5

Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.

About this analysis
Context

Background

Columbia College Chicago posts Clery Crime Advisories as PDFs at students.colum.edu/safety/campus-safety-alerts.
Analysis

Key Findings

ATM and cash-app robbery near Epic Burger.
Outcome
Crime Advisory issued March 13 referencing CPD JK-177941. PDF also embeds a CPD community alert about similar First District incidents, omitted here as not the college product body.
Provenance

Sources

Every claim on this page is meant to be checkable. Open the links below (and the Verify this quote control under each confirmed alert) to read the original university, news, or archive page yourself. Hostnames are shown so you can see where you are going; archived copies survive when live pages move or disappear. See also our methodology.

  1. Official
    Campus Safety Crime Advisory PDF
    students.colum.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Columbia College Chicago: ATM and cash-app robbery near 517 South State." Incident of March 11, 2026. Added August 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/columbia-college-chicago-epic-burger-atm-robbery-2026-03-11/

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Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.

Tags
private-bachelorsillinoisrobberytimely-warning
Added August 2026Updated August 2026Via ingestion