Campus Alert Archive
Columbia

Burglary at 523 West 112th Street

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Under Investigation

Columbia Public Safety issued Clery Crime Alert 2025-W36.

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 verbatim2314 chars
Clery Crime Alert Burglary / Package Thefts The Department of Public Safety was informed that on Friday, November 28, 2025, at approximately 1:06 a.m. a Burglary occurred at 523 West 112th Street. The same individual also committed a similar crime on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 2:40 p.m. at the same location. The individual is male presenting, with a dark complexion and a salt and peppered colored beard. They were wearing a black hoodie, a burgundy jacket, gray jeans and white sneakers. A video review shows the individual using minimal force to push open the lobby door to gain entry. Once inside the building, the individual opened several packages and removed the contents. The individual was last seen walking westbound on West 112th Street towards Broadway. If you have any additional information about this incident, please contact Public Safety at 212-854-2797. Harm Reduction Strategies: Do not buzz people into a building unless you know who they are and what they are doing. Please try to retrieve your package(s) in a timely manner. When safe, and if possible, do not allow others to piggyback behind you when you are entering your apartment building. If you do not feel safe stopping a person from piggybacking behind you, you can always call Public Safety (212-854-2797) once you are in a safe location. Make sure the doors lock behind you every time to enter or exit a building. Stay informed about delivery statuses and estimated arrival times and try to retrieve your package(s) in a timely manner. Many mail carriers (UPS, FedEx) have offices where you can drop-off and pick-up your packages safely. You can also arrange delivery to partnered local businesses, like pharmacies. Disclaimer: Clery Crime Alerts (Timely Warning Notifications) are distributed pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics 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. To see this and other Clery Crime Alerts please visit our Public Safety website. For more information about Columbia University’s Clery Act compliance efforts, please contact the Department’s Compliance Unit by emailing ps-compliance@columbia.edu.
Verify this quote
Columbia Public Safety Clery Crime Alert PDF (2025-W36)publicsafety.columbia.edufind archived copies
PDF text layer ligatures normalized to ASCII. sha256 7899885ac95b64dd50858c2ae34521b987b50cae4ffadeb3275d17813bee99ea. Dual-fetch PDF bytes as packaged.
Columbia Clery 2025-W36 flyer.
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 Burglary / Package Thefts The Department of Public Safety was informed that on Friday, November 28, 2025, at approximately 1:06 a.m. a Burglary occurred at 523 West 112th Street. The same individual also committed a similar crime on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 2:40 p.m. at the same location. The individual is male presenting, with a dark complexion and a salt and peppered colored beard. They were wearing a black hoodie, a burgundy jacket, gray jeans and white sneakers. A video review shows the individual using minimal force to push open the lobby door to gain entry. Once inside the building, the individual opened several packages and removed the contents. The individual was last seen walking westbound on West 112th Street towards Broadway. If you have any additional information about this incident, please contact Public Safety at 212-854-2797. Harm Reduction Strategies: Do not buzz people into a building unless you know who they are and what they are doing. Please try to retrieve your package(s) in a timely manner. When safe, and if possible, do not allow others to piggyback behind you when you are entering your apartment building. If you do not feel safe stopping a person from piggybacking behind you, you can always call Public Safety (212-854-2797) once you are in a safe location. Make sure the doors lock behind you every time to enter or exit a building. Stay informed about delivery statuses and estimated arrival times and try to retrieve your package(s) in a timely manner. Many mail carriers (UPS, FedEx) have offices where you can drop-off and pick-up your packages safely. You can also arrange delivery to partnered local businesses, like pharmacies. Disclaimer: Clery Crime Alerts (Timely Warning Notifications) are distributed pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics 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. To see this and other Clery Crime Alerts please visit our Public Safety website. For more information about Columbia University’s Clery Act compliance efforts, please contact the Department’s Compliance Unit by emailing ps-compliance@columbia.edu.

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Source present: the Clery Crime Alert names the Department of Public Safety as the informing 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 branded "Clery Crime Alert" and "Department of Public Safety" identify the source.
    2. present: "Clery Crime Alert" and "The Department of Public Safety" identify the issuing authority.
    3. present: The Department of Public Safety is identified as the source, and Columbia University is named in the disclaimer.
    4. present: Clery Crime Alert and the Department of Public Safety identify the sending authority.
    5. present: "Clery Crime Alert" and "The Department of Public Safety" name the issuer.
    6. present: "Clery Crime Alert" and the Department of Public Safety identify the source.
    7. present: "Clery Crime Alert" and the Department of Public Safety name the issuer.
    8. present: The Clery Crime Alert label and the Department of Public Safety identify the issuer.
    9. present: The Department of Public Safety and the Clery Crime Alert label identify the sender.
    10. present: "Clery Crime Alert" and the Department of Public Safety name the sending authority.
    11. present: "Clery Crime Alert" and the Department of Public Safety identify the issuing authority.
    12. present: Branded Clery Crime Alert and the Department of Public Safety identify the issuer.
    13. present: "Clery Crime Alert" and the Department of Public Safety identify the issuing authority.
    14. present: Opens with Clery Crime Alert and names the Department of Public Safety.
    15. present: "Clery Crime Alert" and the Department of Public Safety name who is issuing the alert.
    16. present: The Clery Crime Alert branding and Department of Public Safety name the authority.
    17. present: Clery Crime Alert and the Department of Public Safety identify the source.
    18. present: The "Clery Crime Alert" header and Department of Public Safety name the source.
    19. present: "Clery Crime Alert" and the Department of Public Safety identify the issuer.
    20. present: "Clery Crime Alert" and the Department of Public Safety identify who is sending the alert.
    21. present: "Clery Crime Alert" and the Department of Public Safety identify who issued the message.
    22. present: "Clery Crime Alert" and the Department of Public Safety identify the source.
    23. present: "Clery Crime Alert" and the Department of Public Safety identify the issuing agency.
    24. present: "Clery Crime Alert" and "The Department of Public Safety" identify the sender.
    25. present: "Clery Crime Alert" and "The Department of Public Safety" name who is sending the alert.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Hazard present because the text names burglary and package thefts.

    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: It names "Burglary / Package Thefts" as the hazard.
    2. present: The heading names "Burglary / Package Thefts."
    3. present: It names burglary and package thefts after the person pushed open the lobby door and opened packages.
    4. present: The heading names burglary and package thefts as the specific hazard.
    5. present: The alert specifies "Burglary / Package Thefts".
    6. present: The heading names "Burglary / Package Thefts".
    7. present: Burglary and package thefts are specified as the hazard.
    8. present: The heading names burglary and package thefts as the hazard.
    9. present: The heading and body name burglary and package thefts.
    10. present: The threat is specified as "Burglary / Package Thefts".
    11. present: The heading and body name burglary and package thefts as the threat.
    12. present: The alert specifies burglary and package thefts.
    13. present: The alert specifies burglary and package thefts.
    14. present: The heading names Burglary and Package Thefts as the specific threat.
    15. present: It names "Burglary / Package Thefts" as the specific threat.
    16. present: It specifies a burglary and similar package thefts.
    17. present: The specific hazard is burglary and package thefts.
    18. present: It specifies "Burglary / Package Thefts" as the hazard.
    19. present: The threat is named as "Burglary / Package Thefts."
    20. present: The heading specifies "Burglary / Package Thefts" as the threat.
    21. present: It names "Burglary / Package Thefts" as the specific threat.
    22. present: The heading names "Burglary / Package Thefts" as the threat.
    23. present: The alert names burglary and package thefts as the threat.
    24. present: It names "Burglary" and "Package Thefts" as the specific threats.
    25. present: The specific hazard is "Burglary / Package Thefts".
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Location present: 523 West 112th 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: The crime is at "523 West 112th Street", with the suspect walking toward Broadway.
    2. present: Both incidents are at 523 West 112th Street, with the suspect last seen toward Broadway.
    3. present: Both incidents occurred at 523 West 112th Street, and the person walked westbound toward Broadway.
    4. present: Both incidents are at 523 West 112th Street, with the suspect last seen toward Broadway.
    5. present: It locates the burglary at "523 West 112th Street" and last seen on West 112th Street.
    6. present: The burglary is at 523 West 112th Street, with the suspect last seen on West 112th toward Broadway.
    7. present: The site is 523 West 112th Street, with the suspect walking toward Broadway.
    8. present: Both burglaries are at 523 West 112th Street, with the suspect last seen toward Broadway.
    9. present: The burglary is at 523 West 112th Street, with the suspect walking toward Broadway.
    10. present: Both incidents are at 523 West 112th Street, with the suspect walking toward Broadway.
    11. present: Both incidents occurred at 523 West 112th Street, with the suspect walking toward Broadway.
    12. present: The crime is at 523 West 112th Street, with the suspect walking toward Broadway.
    13. present: Both incidents are at 523 West 112th Street, with last seen toward Broadway.
    14. present: It places both incidents at 523 West 112th Street.
    15. present: The building is 523 West 112th Street, with the suspect walking west toward Broadway.
    16. present: Both crimes are at 523 West 112th Street, with last seen toward Broadway.
    17. present: Both crimes occurred at 523 West 112th Street.
    18. present: Both incidents are placed at 523 West 112th Street, with a last seen direction on that street.
    19. present: Both incidents are at 523 West 112th Street, with the suspect last seen toward Broadway.
    20. present: Both burglaries are at 523 West 112th Street, with the suspect last seen on that street toward Broadway.
    21. present: Both crimes are at 523 West 112th Street, with the suspect last seen toward Broadway.
    22. present: Both incidents occurred at 523 West 112th Street, with the suspect last seen toward Broadway.
    23. present: Both crimes are placed at 523 West 112th Street, with flight toward Broadway.
    24. present: Both incidents are at 523 West 112th Street, with the suspect last seen toward Broadway.
    25. present: Both incidents are at 523 West 112th Street, with the suspect walking toward Broadway.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Guidance present: tips tell recipients not to buzz unknown people in, to make sure doors lock, and to retrieve packages promptly.

    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 not to buzz unknown people, not to allow piggybacking, and to lock doors.
    2. present: It tells readers not to buzz unknown people in, not to allow piggybacking, and to lock doors.
    3. present: Harm reduction instructs not to buzz unknown people in, not to allow piggybacking, and to lock doors.
    4. present: Harm Reduction instructs not to buzz strangers, to retrieve packages, and to lock doors behind you.
    5. present: It instructs not to buzz unknown people, to retrieve packages, and to lock doors.
    6. present: Readers are told not to buzz strangers, not to allow piggybacking, and to make sure doors lock.
    7. present: Protective steps include not buzzing unknown people and locking doors on entry or exit.
    8. present: Harm reduction tells people not to buzz unknown visitors, lock doors, and retrieve packages promptly.
    9. present: It instructs not to buzz unknown people, not to allow piggybacking, and to lock doors.
    10. present: It tells recipients not to buzz strangers, avoid piggybacking, and make sure doors lock.
    11. present: Harm reduction instructs not to buzz strangers, not to allow piggybacking, and to lock doors.
    12. present: Readers are instructed not to buzz strangers, not to allow piggybacking, and to lock doors.
    13. present: It instructs not to buzz unknown people, not to allow piggybacking, and to lock doors.
    14. present: Harm reduction instructs readers not to buzz unknown people, to retrieve packages, and to lock doors.
    15. present: Harm reduction tells readers not to buzz unknowns, lock doors, avoid piggybacking, and retrieve packages.
    16. present: It tells people not to buzz strangers, not to allow piggybacking, and to make doors lock.
    17. present: It tells readers not to buzz strangers, to retrieve packages, and to lock doors.
    18. present: Harm reduction instructs not to buzz strangers, lock doors, and retrieve packages promptly.
    19. present: It instructs not to buzz unknown people, not to allow piggybacking, and to lock doors.
    20. present: Harm Reduction Strategies tell recipients not to buzz unknown people, lock doors, and retrieve packages promptly.
    21. present: Harm reduction tells readers not to buzz unknown people, to lock doors, and to retrieve packages.
    22. present: Harm Reduction Strategies instruct not to buzz strangers, not to allow piggybacking, and to lock doors.
    23. present: Readers are instructed not to buzz unknown people, retrieve packages, and secure doors.
    24. present: Harm reduction tells recipients not to buzz unknown people, not to allow piggybacking, and to lock doors.
    25. present: Readers are told not to buzz unknown people in, not to allow piggybacking, and to lock doors.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Time present via Friday, November 28, 2025, at approximately 1:06 a.m. and Tuesday, November 25, 2025.

    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 reports Friday, November 28, 2025 at approximately 1:06 a.m. and November 25 at 2:40 p.m.
    2. present: It times a burglary on Friday, November 28, 2025, at approximately 1:06 a.m., plus a prior date and time.
    3. present: It times events on Friday, November 28, 2025 at approximately 1:06 a.m. and Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at 2:40 p.m.
    4. present: It gives Friday, November 28, 2025, at approximately 1:06 a.m., plus November 25 at 2:40 p.m.
    5. present: It reports Friday, November 28, 2025, at approximately 1:06 a.m. plus a prior date and time.
    6. present: Times include Friday, November 28, 2025 at about 1:06 a.m. and Tuesday, November 25 at 2:40 p.m.
    7. present: Dates include Friday, November 28, 2025 at about 1:06 a.m. and November 25 at 2:40 p.m.
    8. present: It gives Friday, November 28, 2025 at about 1:06 a.m. and Tuesday, November 25 at 2:40 p.m.
    9. present: It reports Friday, November 28, 2025, at approximately 1:06 a.m. and a prior date and time.
    10. present: Clock times and dates include Friday, November 28, 2025, at approximately 1:06 a.m.
    11. present: It gives Friday, November 28, 2025, at approximately 1:06 a.m. and November 25 at 2:40 p.m.
    12. present: Clock times appear: November 28, 2025 at approximately 1:06 a.m. and November 25 at 2:40 p.m.
    13. present: Times include Friday, November 28, 2025 at about 1:06 a.m. and Tuesday, November 25 at 2:40 p.m.
    14. present: It gives November 28, 2025 at approximately 1:06 a.m. and November 25 at 2:40 p.m.
    15. present: Incidents are timed Friday, November 28 at about 1:06 a.m. and Tuesday, November 25 at 2:40 p.m.
    16. present: It reports Friday, November 28, 2025 at approximately 1:06 a.m. and a second dated time.
    17. present: It reports Friday, November 28, 2025 at about 1:06 a.m. and November 25 at 2:40 p.m.
    18. present: It reports Friday, November 28, 2025, at approximately 1:06 a.m. and a prior date and time.
    19. present: Times include Friday, November 28, 2025, at approximately 1:06 a.m. and November 25 at 2:40 p.m.
    20. present: It gives Friday, November 28, 2025, at approximately 1:06 a.m. and Tuesday, November 25 at 2:40 p.m.
    21. present: It timestamps Friday, November 28, 2025 at about 1:06 a.m. and November 25 at 2:40 p.m.
    22. present: It states Friday, November 28, 2025 at approximately 1:06 a.m. and Tuesday, November 25 at 2:40 p.m.
    23. present: It reports Friday, November 28, 2025, at approximately 1:06 a.m. and a prior time.
    24. present: It times events on Friday, November 28, 2025 at about 1:06 a.m. and Tuesday, November 25 at 2:40 p.m.
    25. present: It gives Friday, November 28, 2025 at about 1:06 a.m. and Tuesday, November 25 at 2:40 p.m.
  • Impactabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Impact absent: forcing a door and taking packages describes the completed crimes without injury, danger, or other 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: Forcing a door and taking packages does not state injury, danger, or other impact.
    2. absent: Removed package contents is the crime outcome, with no injury or danger language.
    3. absent: No explicit consequence or severity is stated beyond the burglary and package thefts.
    4. absent: The text does not state injuries, danger, or other harm beyond describing the burglary.
    5. absent: Package contents being removed is the theft outcome, not a severity or harm statement.
    6. absent: Removed package contents describe the completed theft, not severity or what the hazard could do.
    7. absent: No injury, danger, or other consequence is stated beyond the theft.
    8. absent: The text does not describe injury, danger, or other consequences beyond the theft of packages.
    9. absent: No injury, danger, or other consequence is stated beyond describing the thefts.
    10. absent: No consequence such as injury or danger is stated, only that packages were opened.
    11. absent: No consequence such as injury or danger is stated; taking package contents is the crime itself.
    12. absent: Removed package contents is a crime outcome, not stated injury, danger, or other impact.
    13. absent: No injury, danger, or other consequence is stated beyond describing the thefts.
    14. absent: No injury, danger, or other harm is stated; package removal is the crime, not impact.
    15. absent: Pushing a door and removing package contents does not state injury, danger, or severity.
    16. absent: No injury or danger language appears, and taking package contents is not Impact.
    17. absent: No injury, danger, or other consequence is stated beyond the thefts.
    18. absent: No injury, danger, or other consequence is stated beyond naming the burglary and package theft.
    19. absent: Pushing open a door and taking package contents does not state injury, danger, or severity.
    20. absent: The alert does not state injury, danger, or other harm beyond describing the package thefts.
    21. absent: Past-tense removal of package contents is the offense, not an injury or danger statement.
    22. absent: Removed package contents is the theft outcome, not a harm or severity statement.
    23. absent: No injury, danger, or other consequence language appears beyond the crime name.
    24. absent: Package contents being taken is the crime outcome, not a stated consequence such as danger or injury.
    25. absent: The text does not say the burglary is dangerous or could injure anyone; taking packages is the crime itself.

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 2025-W36 warning.
Analysis

Key Findings

Official Clery Crime Alert PDF recovered from the Public Safety files host.
Outcome
Public Safety seeking tips at 212-854-2797.
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 (2025-W36)
    publicsafety.columbia.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Columbia University: Burglary at 523 West 112th Street." Incident of November 25, 2025. Added September 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/columbia-university-523-west-112th-burglaries-2025-11-25/

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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-yorkcolumbiaivycleryburglaryUnder Investigation
Added September 2026Updated September 2026Via ingestion