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Columbia

Timely warning for buzzing-entry burglaries on 120th and 119th

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Under Investigation

Columbia Public Safety issued Clery Crime Alert W11 for two burglaries on the evening of April 30, 2026 at 414 West 120th St and 420 West 119th St, with multi-apartment buzzing entry.

Alerts
1
Response
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Killed
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Injured
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Institution
Columbia University
Private R1 · NY
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~33,000 studentsColumbia Public Safety Clery Alert
Official alert policy
Read when and how Columbia says it will use Emergency Notification 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 verbatim2417 chars
Clery Crime Alert Burglaries Columbia University Public Safety was recently informed of multiple burglaries that occurred on the evening of April 30, 2026. The first incident occurred at 8:59 PM at 414 West 120th St. The second incident occurred at 9:30 PM at 420 West 119th St. Both incidents appeared to have been committed by the same suspect. They entered these locations by buzzing multiple apartments until granted access. No other information is available currently. If you have any additional information about these incidents, please contact Investigator G. Torres at 201-580-0093 and reference report number 26-001623. The individual is described as male-presenting, of average height, with a slim-to-average build. At the time of observation, the individual was wearing a dark jacket over a light-colored top, paired with light blue jeans and athletic sneakers featuring light-colored soles. A dark baseball cap was worn low over the face. The individual was also carrying a crossbody or shoulder bag. Additionally, the individual was observed pushing a small wire shopping cart containing assorted items, including a cardboard box. Harm Reduction Strategies: No one is ever responsible for a crime committed against them. The responsibility lies entirely with the perpetrator. If something happens, we encourage you to report it. Reporting helps protect others and ensures you can access support and services. Report the incident to the Department of Public Safety at Morningside: 212-854-5555 Manhattanville: 212-853-3333 Medical Center: 212-305-7979 Sign up for free services such as FedEx Delivery Manager® and UPS My Choice® or use an Amazon Pick Up Location, such as a locker or local store. Many online retailers allow you to send directly to a local shipping center or retail store at check out. Do NOT buzz people into your building if you do not know who they are. Stay informed about delivery statuses and estimated arrival times and try to retrieve your packages in a timely manner. Disclaimer: Clery Crime Alerts (Timely Warning Notifications) are distributed pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act. Columbia University is required to alert the campus community when certain crimes occur in our Clery Act defined campuses that represent a serious or continuous threat to the community. For additional information, please visit our Clery Act website or email ps-compliance@columbia.edu
Verify this quote
Columbia Public Safety Clery Crime Alert PDF (W11 Apr 30 2026)publicsafety.columbia.edufind archived copies
PDF text layer ligatures normalized to ASCII, matching W05/W06 capture practice. sha256 5e0bef5a0b14243d2eb076ffc07a433d2ad64460ea0890cdcb1ee6e51002b53f. Official registered-sign marks preserved. Double space after 120th St. preserved.
Distinct incident from 2026-04-03-columbia-university-claremont-122nd-burglaries: different date and 414 W 120 / 420 W 119 vs 150 Claremont / 520 W 122.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, SuperGrok Heavy 4.5 (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.

Clery Crime Alert Burglaries Columbia University Public Safety was recently informed of multiple burglaries that occurred on the evening of April 30, 2026. The first incident occurred at 8:59 PM at 414 West 120th St. The second incident occurred at 9:30 PM at 420 West 119th St. Both incidents appeared to have been committed by the same suspect. They entered these locations by buzzing multiple apartments until granted access. No other information is available currently. If you have any additional information about these incidents, please contact Investigator G. Torres at 201-580-0093 and reference report number 26-001623. The individual is described as male-presenting, of average height, with a slim-to-average build. At the time of observation, the individual was wearing a dark jacket over a light-colored top, paired with light blue jeans and athletic sneakers featuring light-colored soles. A dark baseball cap was worn low over the face. The individual was also carrying a crossbody or shoulder bag. Additionally, the individual was observed pushing a small wire shopping cart containing assorted items, including a cardboard box. Harm Reduction Strategies: No one is ever responsible for a crime committed against them. The responsibility lies entirely with the perpetrator. If something happens, we encourage you to report it. Reporting helps protect others and ensures you can access support and services. Report the incident to the Department of Public Safety at Morningside: 212-854-5555 Manhattanville: 212-853-3333 Medical Center: 212-305-7979 Sign up for free services such as FedEx Delivery Manager® and UPS My Choice® or use an Amazon Pick Up Location, such as a locker or local store. Many online retailers allow you to send directly to a local shipping center or retail store at check out. Do NOT buzz people into your building if you do not know who they are. Stay informed about delivery statuses and estimated arrival times and try to retrieve your packages in a timely manner. Disclaimer: Clery Crime Alerts (Timely Warning Notifications) are distributed pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act. Columbia University is required to alert the campus community when certain crimes occur in our Clery Act defined campuses that represent a serious or continuous threat to the community. For additional information, please visit our Clery Act website or email ps-compliance@columbia.edu

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Source present because Clery Crime Alert and Columbia University Public Safety identify the issuing authority.

    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 message names Columbia University Public Safety as the informing authority and lists Department of Public Safety numbers.
    2. present: Columbia University Public Safety and the Department of Public Safety are named, and the header is Clery Crime Alert.
    3. present: The message names Columbia University Public Safety as the authority and is labeled a Clery Crime Alert.
    4. present: Columbia University Public Safety and the Department of Public Safety are named, and the header Clery Crime Alert identifies the issuer.
    5. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the informing authority, and Department of Public Safety numbers appear later.
    6. present: Opens as a Clery Crime Alert and names Columbia University Public Safety as the informing authority.
    7. present: The text names Columbia University Public Safety as the informing authority and Department of Public Safety as the contact agency.
    8. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the informing authority under the Clery Crime Alert label.
    9. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the office informed of the crimes, and Department of Public Safety numbers are listed.
    10. present: The message names Columbia University Public Safety as the informing authority and lists Department of Public Safety numbers.
    11. present: The heading Clery Crime Alert and the line naming Columbia University Public Safety identify the issuing authority.
    12. present: The header Clery Crime Alert and Columbia University Public Safety name the issuing authority.
    13. present: The message names Columbia University Public Safety as the informing and reporting authority under a Clery Crime Alert header.
    14. present: The message names Columbia University Public Safety as the informing authority and opens with the branded Clery Crime Alert tag.
    15. present: The message names Columbia University Public Safety as the issuing authority and opens with a Clery Crime Alert header.
    16. present: Columbia University Public Safety and the Clery Crime Alert header name the issuing authority.
    17. present: The message is a Clery Crime Alert and names Columbia University Public Safety as the informed authority.
    18. present: The Clery Crime Alert header and Columbia University Public Safety name the issuing authority.
    19. present: The message names Columbia University Public Safety as the informing authority and lists Department of Public Safety contacts.
    20. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the informing authority, and the message is labeled a Clery Crime Alert.
    21. present: The alert is labeled Clery Crime Alert and names Columbia University Public Safety and the Department of Public Safety as the authority.
    22. present: Columbia University Public Safety names the issuing authority, and Clery Crime Alert plus Department of Public Safety also identify the source.
    23. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the informing agency, with Department of Public Safety listed as the reporting contact.
    24. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the informing authority, with Department of Public Safety campus numbers.
    25. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the agency that was informed and is issuing this Clery alert.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Hazard present: burglaries name a specific crime threat.

    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 heading and body name multiple burglaries, a specific crime threat rather than a generic incident.
    2. present: The heading and body name burglaries as the specific crime, not a generic incident or emergency.
    3. present: It specifically names burglaries as the crime, not a generic emergency or incident.
    4. present: The alert names Burglaries and multiple burglaries, a specific crime threat rather than a generic incident.
    5. present: The alert titles and body name multiple burglaries, a specific crime threat.
    6. present: The heading and body name multiple burglaries as the specific crime.
    7. present: The heading and body name multiple burglaries, a specific crime threat rather than a generic incident.
    8. present: The heading and body name burglaries as the specific crime, not a generic incident or emergency.
    9. present: The title and body both specify burglaries, a concrete crime rather than a generic incident or situation.
    10. present: The heading and body name multiple burglaries, a specific crime threat.
    11. present: The text names multiple burglaries, a specific crime type, rather than a vague emergency or incident.
    12. present: The message names multiple burglaries, a specific crime rather than a generic incident.
    13. present: It names multiple burglaries as the specific crime, not a generic incident or situation.
    14. present: The heading and body name burglaries as the specific crime threat.
    15. present: It titles and reports multiple burglaries, a specific crime threat rather than a generic emergency or incident.
    16. present: The alert names burglaries as the specific crime threat.
    17. present: The heading Burglaries and the phrase multiple burglaries name a specific crime threat.
    18. present: The title and body name burglaries as the specific crime threat, not a generic incident.
    19. present: The heading and body name burglaries as the specific crime threat, not a generic incident or situation.
    20. present: The alert names burglaries as the specific crime, not a generic incident or emergency.
    21. present: The heading and body name burglaries as the specific crime, not a generic incident or emergency.
    22. present: The title and body name multiple burglaries, a specific crime threat rather than a generic incident.
    23. present: The heading and body name multiple burglaries, a specific crime threat rather than a generic incident.
    24. present: The alert names multiple burglaries, a specific crime type rather than a generic incident or emergency.
    25. present: The alert names multiple burglaries as the specific crime threat, not a generic incident.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Location present at 414 West 120th St and 420 West 119th St.

    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: It gives two street addresses: 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St.
    2. present: It places the incidents at 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St., two street addresses.
    3. present: It locates the events at 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St.
    4. present: It places the crimes at 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St., two specific street addresses.
    5. present: It gives two street addresses: 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St.
    6. present: It gives two street addresses: 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St.
    7. present: It gives two street addresses: 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St.
    8. present: It places the events at 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St., two street addresses.
    9. present: The two events are placed at 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St., both street addresses.
    10. present: It gives street addresses 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St.
    11. present: It locates the first burglary at 414 West 120th St and the second at 420 West 119th St.
    12. present: It locates the incidents at 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St.
    13. present: It locates the incidents at 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St.
    14. present: It gives street addresses: 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St.
    15. present: It gives two street locations: 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St.
    16. present: It places the incidents at 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St.
    17. present: The first incident is at 414 West 120th St. and the second at 420 West 119th St.
    18. present: It locates the incidents at 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St.
    19. present: It places the incidents at 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St., two street addresses.
    20. present: Two street locations are given: 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St.
    21. present: It locates the incidents at 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St.
    22. present: It gives two street addresses, 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St.
    23. present: It locates the events at 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St.
    24. present: It gives two street addresses: 414 West 120th St. and 420 West 119th St.
    25. present: It locates the incidents at 414 West 120th St and 420 West 119th St.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Guidance present: lock doors, do not buzz unknowns, retrieve packages promptly, and use secure pickup options.

    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. present: It instructs recipients not to buzz unknown people into the building and to report incidents to Public Safety.
    2. present: It tells readers not to buzz unknown people in, to retrieve packages promptly, and to report to Public Safety.
    3. present: Harm reduction instructs people not to buzz unknown persons into the building and to report to Public Safety.
    4. present: Harm reduction instructs recipients, Do NOT buzz people into your building if you do not know who they are, a protective action.
    5. present: Harm reduction tells readers not to buzz unknown people in and to report to Public Safety.
    6. present: It instructs readers not to buzz unknown people into the building and to retrieve packages promptly.
    7. present: Harm reduction tells readers Do NOT buzz unknown people into the building, a protective instruction.
    8. present: Harm reduction instructs readers not to buzz unknown people into the building and to report to Public Safety.
    9. present: Harm reduction tells readers not to buzz unknown people into the building and to report incidents to Public Safety.
    10. present: Harm reduction tells readers not to buzz unknown people in and to report incidents to Public Safety.
    11. present: Harm reduction instructs people not to buzz unknown visitors in, to report to Public Safety, and to use package pickup services.
    12. present: It tells readers not to buzz unknown people in, report to Public Safety, and use package lockers.
    13. present: Harm reduction instructs readers not to buzz unknown people in and to report to Public Safety.
    14. present: Harm reduction tells recipients not to buzz unknown people in and to report incidents to Public Safety.
    15. present: Harm reduction instructs recipients not to buzz unknown people into the building and to report incidents to Public Safety.
    16. present: Harm reduction tells people not to buzz unknown visitors in and to report to Public Safety.
    17. present: Harm reduction tells readers Do NOT buzz unknown people into the building and to report incidents to Public Safety.
    18. present: Harm reduction tells readers not to buzz unknown people into the building and to report to Public Safety.
    19. present: Harm reduction instructs readers: Do NOT buzz people into your building if you do not know who they are.
    20. present: Recipients are told not to buzz unknown people into buildings and to report incidents to Public Safety numbers.
    21. present: Harm reduction instructs readers not to buzz unknown people in, to report to Public Safety, and to use package pickup.
    22. present: Harm reduction tells people not to buzz unknown persons into the building and to report incidents to Public Safety.
    23. present: Harm reduction tells readers not to buzz unknown people in, report to Public Safety, and retrieve packages promptly.
    24. present: Harm reduction tells readers not to buzz unknown people in and to report incidents to Public Safety.
    25. present: It instructs recipients not to buzz unknown people in, to report to Public Safety, and to use package pickup options.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Time present via the evening of April 30, 2026 at 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.

    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 dates the incidents to the evening of April 30, 2026, at 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
    2. present: It dates the crimes to the evening of April 30, 2026, with clock times 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
    3. present: It gives the date April 30, 2026 and clock times 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM, plus recently.
    4. present: It states the evening of April 30, 2026 and clock times 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM, plus recently.
    5. present: Incidents are dated the evening of April 30, 2026, at 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
    6. present: It states the evening of April 30, 2026, with clock times 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
    7. present: It dates the crimes to the evening of April 30, 2026, with clock times 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM, and says recently.
    8. present: The burglaries are timed to the evening of April 30, 2026 at 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
    9. present: The crimes are dated to the evening of April 30, 2026, with clock times 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
    10. present: Incidents are timed to the evening of April 30, 2026 at 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
    11. present: Public Safety was recently informed of events on the evening of April 30, 2026 at 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
    12. present: It gives the evening of April 30, 2026, plus clock times 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
    13. present: Both incidents are timed on the evening of April 30, 2026 at 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
    14. present: It dates the crimes to the evening of April 30, 2026, at 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
    15. present: It dates the crimes to the evening of April 30, 2026, with clock times 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
    16. present: Both incidents are dated the evening of April 30, 2026 at 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
    17. present: It places the events on the evening of April 30, 2026, at 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
    18. present: It timestamps the burglaries on the evening of April 30, 2026 at 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
    19. present: Events are dated the evening of April 30, 2026, at 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM, and Public Safety was recently informed.
    20. present: Events are dated the evening of April 30, 2026, with times 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
    21. present: It gives the evening of April 30, 2026 and clock times 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM, plus that Public Safety was recently informed.
    22. present: It dates the events to the evening of April 30, 2026, with clock times 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM, plus recently.
    23. present: The burglaries are placed on the evening of April 30, 2026 at 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
    24. present: The burglaries are dated the evening of April 30, 2026, at 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
    25. present: It gives the evening of April 30, 2026 and clock times 8:59 PM and 9:30 PM.
  • Impactabsent3/25

    Final assessment

    22 of 25 reads find Impact absent: burglary is named without injury, loss, or danger, and the Clery serious or continuous threat line is statutory boilerplate; 3 treat that disclaimer as severity.

    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: Burglary is named, but the text never states consequences or severity such as injury, loss, or danger.
    2. absent: No injury, danger, or other consequence of the burglaries is stated, only Clery legal disclaimer language.
    3. absent: Naming burglary and Clery boilerplate about a serious or continuous threat do not state harm or severity of these crimes.
    4. absent: Burglary is named without injury, danger, or other harm; the Clery serious or continuous threat line is legal boilerplate, not this crime's consequences.
    5. absent: Burglary is named but no consequence or severity such as injury, danger, or property loss is stated.
    6. absent: It names burglaries but does not state any consequence or severity such as danger or property loss.
    7. absent: Burglary is named but the text does not state consequences or severity such as injury, danger, or property loss.
    8. absent: Burglary is named, but the text never states injury, danger, or other consequences of the crime.
    9. absent: The text recounts the burglaries and a suspect description but never states injury, danger, or other consequences.
    10. absent: The text names burglary but does not state consequences or severity such as injury risk or danger.
    11. absent: Burglary only names the crime. The Clery line about a serious or continuous threat is legal boilerplate, not harm from these incidents.
    12. present: The disclaimer says such alerts cover crimes that represent a serious or continuous threat to the community.
    13. absent: Naming burglaries plus a boilerplate Clery serious or continuous threat line does not state harm or severity of this event.
    14. absent: No consequence or severity is stated for these burglaries, only generic Clery disclaimer language.
    15. absent: It does not state what burglary could do to people or property, such as injury, loss, or danger.
    16. absent: No consequence or severity is stated beyond naming burglaries and Clery legal boilerplate.
    17. absent: Burglary is named without injury, danger, or property-loss wording, and the Clery footer is legal boilerplate not stated harm.
    18. absent: Nothing states what the burglaries could do or how severe they are, such as injury, danger, or property loss.
    19. absent: Nothing states injury, danger, or other harm from the burglaries, only the crime name and Clery footer language.
    20. absent: The text names burglary but never states a consequence or severity such as injury, danger, or loss.
    21. present: The Clery disclaimer states that these crimes represent a serious or continuous threat to the community.
    22. absent: Burglary is named but the text never states injury, danger, or other consequences, and the Clery disclaimer is only legal boilerplate.
    23. present: The Clery disclaimer says such campus crimes represent a serious or continuous threat to the community.
    24. absent: Burglary is named but no consequence or severity is stated, such as injury, danger, or property loss.
    25. absent: Naming burglaries and Clery boilerplate about a serious threat does not state what harm this event could cause.

Coded by SuperGrok Heavy 4.5

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

About this analysis
Context

Background

Columbia Public Safety posts Clery Crime Alerts as PDFs. Official product: the W11 burglaries warning for April 30, 2026 at 414 West 120th Street and 420 West 119th Street. The W09 April 3 warning is a distinct buzzing-entry series.
Analysis

Key Findings

Official PDF lists two timed evening burglaries 31 minutes apart and a clothing description plus a wire shopping cart.
Outcome
Same suspect believed responsible. Public Safety seeking tips at 201-580-0093, report 26-001623.
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
    Columbia Public Safety Clery Crime Alert PDF (W11 Apr 30 2026)
    publicsafety.columbia.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Columbia University: Timely warning for buzzing-entry burglaries on 120th and 119th." Incident of April 30, 2026. Added September 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/columbia-university-120th-119th-burglaries-2026-04-30/

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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-r1new-yorkcolumbiaivyburglarycleryUnder Investigation
Added September 2026Updated September 2026Via ingestion