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Columbia

Timely warning for e-bike thefts on Fort Washington

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Under Investigation

Columbia Public Safety issued Clery Crime Alert W16 for the incident described in the official PDF.

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 verbatim2668 chars
Clery Crime Alert Motor Vehicle/E-Bike Theft Columbia University Public Safety was recently informed of an electric bicycle theft from the bike rack on Fort Washington Avenue, located between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock entrance. The incident occurred on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at approximately 5:16 AM. A similar incident occurred at the same location on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at approximately 7:14 PM. The two incidents appear to have been committed by different suspects, both of whom forcibly removed secured electric bicycles from the bike rack. Description of Suspect(s): The individual captured on CCTV is the suspect associated with the June 30 incident: The suspect is described as a male-presenting individual with a dark complexion, wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans, black sneakers, and a black baseball cap. The individual captured on CCTV is the suspect associated with the June 23 incident: The suspect is described as a male-presenting individual with a dark complexion, wearing a light blue long-sleeve sweatshirt, dark pants, tan and red sneakers, and a dark bucket hat. The individual is also carrying a dark backpack and a large black duffel bag. No further information is available at this time. If you have any additional information about these incidents, please contact Investigator Torres at 212-854-0377 and reference report numbers 26-002242 or 26-002307. 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 Consider registering your bicycles and other valuable property with Public Safety’s Operation ID program. When possible, avoid parking your bicycle or scooter at a non-designated location. Commuter Bicycle Parking enclosures can be found here. The Bicycle Parking map can be found here. Consider using a heavy-duty lock and/or chain to secure your bicycle or scooter. Tips on locking your bike can be found here. 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 (W16)publicsafety.columbia.edufind archived copies
PDF dual-download MATCH 2026-09-21. Text-layer ligatures/NBSP/Ō normalized to ASCII, matching W05/W06 capture practice. verbatim sha256 a93fcd5b66286148587ac4c330007bba4bc0b75e7d8180b2d17c80ab23940507. PDF bytes sha256 b0d9efa5729cdca2fa1a97680419efb17d1bc372d67f375df3501f7549902a05.
Distinct incident from 2026-06-29-columbia-university-611-west-112th-motor-vehicle-theft: different dates and Fort Washington e-bikes vs a parked vehicle on West 112th.
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 Motor Vehicle/E-Bike Theft Columbia University Public Safety was recently informed of an electric bicycle theft from the bike rack on Fort Washington Avenue, located between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock entrance. The incident occurred on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at approximately 5:16 AM. A similar incident occurred at the same location on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at approximately 7:14 PM. The two incidents appear to have been committed by different suspects, both of whom forcibly removed secured electric bicycles from the bike rack. Description of Suspect(s): The individual captured on CCTV is the suspect associated with the June 30 incident: The suspect is described as a male-presenting individual with a dark complexion, wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans, black sneakers, and a black baseball cap. The individual captured on CCTV is the suspect associated with the June 23 incident: The suspect is described as a male-presenting individual with a dark complexion, wearing a light blue long-sleeve sweatshirt, dark pants, tan and red sneakers, and a dark bucket hat. The individual is also carrying a dark backpack and a large black duffel bag. No further information is available at this time. If you have any additional information about these incidents, please contact Investigator Torres at 212-854-0377 and reference report numbers 26-002242 or 26-002307. 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 Consider registering your bicycles and other valuable property with Public Safety’s Operation ID program. When possible, avoid parking your bicycle or scooter at a non-designated location. Commuter Bicycle Parking enclosures can be found here. The Bicycle Parking map can be found here. Consider using a heavy-duty lock and/or chain to secure your bicycle or scooter. Tips on locking your bike can be found here. 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.

    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: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the informing office on this Clery Crime Alert.
    2. present: Columbia University Public Safety is identified as the informing office under the Clery Crime Alert header.
    3. present: Columbia University Public Safety is identified as the sender on a Clery Crime Alert.
    4. present: "Clery Crime Alert" and "Columbia University Public Safety" identify who sent the message.
    5. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the informing authority on this Clery Crime Alert.
    6. present: "Clery Crime Alert" plus "Columbia University Public Safety" identify who is sending the warning.
    7. present: Columbia University Public Safety issues the Clery Crime Alert, identifying the authority.
    8. present: Columbia University Public Safety is identified as the informing authority under the Clery Crime Alert header.
    9. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the authority that was informed of the thefts.
    10. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the informing authority under the branded Clery Crime Alert header.
    11. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the authority that was informed, on a Clery Crime Alert.
    12. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the unit informed of the thefts, and Columbia University appears in the disclaimer.
    13. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the informing, issuing authority.
    14. present: Columbia University Public Safety is identified as the sender of this Clery Crime Alert.
    15. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the informing authority under a Clery Crime Alert heading.
    16. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the authority issuing the Clery Crime Alert.
    17. present: Columbia University Public Safety is identified as the source of the Clery Crime Alert.
    18. present: Columbia University Public Safety is identified as the informing authority on this Clery Crime Alert.
    19. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the authority issuing this Clery Crime Alert.
    20. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the agency that was informed and is issuing the warning.
    21. present: "Columbia University Public Safety" is named as the source under the "Clery Crime Alert" heading.
    22. present: Columbia University Public Safety is identified as the informing unit on a Clery Crime Alert.
    23. present: Columbia University Public Safety and the Clery Crime Alert label identify the sending authority.
    24. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the authority that received the report and is issuing the alert.
    25. present: Columbia University Public Safety is identified under a Clery Crime Alert heading.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Hazard present.

    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 specifies electric bicycle theft, including that secured bikes were forcibly removed.
    2. present: The alert names Motor Vehicle/E-Bike Theft and describes forcible electric bicycle theft, a specific hazard.
    3. present: It names electric bicycle theft, including that suspects forcibly removed secured bikes.
    4. present: It names "electric bicycle theft" and "Motor Vehicle/E-Bike Theft" as the hazard.
    5. present: It specifies electric bicycle theft, including that suspects forcibly removed secured e-bikes from the rack.
    6. present: It names "electric bicycle theft" and "Motor Vehicle/E-Bike Theft", a specific threat.
    7. present: It names electric bicycle theft, a specific crime type, including a similar prior theft at the same rack.
    8. present: It names electric bicycle theft, a specific threat, including a similar prior theft.
    9. present: The alert specifies electric bicycle theft, including forcible removal from a bike rack.
    10. present: It specifies electric bicycle theft and Motor Vehicle/E-Bike Theft, a named crime rather than a vague situation.
    11. present: The hazard is specified as electric bicycle theft from a bike rack, not a vague emergency.
    12. present: The alert specifies electric bicycle theft, naming a concrete crime rather than a vague emergency.
    13. present: The heading and body name electric bicycle theft as the specific crime.
    14. present: The text names Motor Vehicle/E-Bike Theft and an electric bicycle theft as the hazard.
    15. present: The alert specifies electric bicycle theft, a named crime rather than a generic situation.
    16. present: It specifies electric bicycle theft, matching the Motor Vehicle/E-Bike Theft heading.
    17. present: It names electric bicycle theft as the specific threat, including that suspects forcibly removed secured bikes.
    18. present: The message names electric bicycle theft, including a similar prior theft at the same rack.
    19. present: It specifies electric bicycle theft, including that suspects forcibly removed secured e-bikes.
    20. present: The alert names electric bicycle theft, including a second similar theft at the same rack.
    21. present: The heading and body specify "electric bicycle theft" and "Motor Vehicle/E-Bike Theft".
    22. present: The alert specifies electric bicycle theft, including a similar prior theft from the same rack.
    23. present: The alert names electric bicycle theft, a specific crime type.
    24. present: The heading and body specify electric bicycle theft, a concrete crime type.
    25. present: It specifies electric bicycle theft, not a vague emergency or unnamed situation.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Location present.

    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 theft is at the bike rack on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    2. present: It places the theft at the bike rack on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    3. present: The theft is at the Fort Washington Avenue bike rack between West 168th Street and the Black Building.
    4. present: The bike rack is on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building.
    5. present: The theft is at the bike rack on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    6. present: The rack is on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    7. present: The theft is at the bike rack on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    8. present: The theft is located at the bike rack on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    9. present: It places the rack on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    10. present: It places the theft at the bike rack on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    11. present: It gives the bike rack on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    12. present: It locates the bike rack on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    13. present: The rack is on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    14. present: It locates the bike rack on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    15. present: It locates the theft at the bike rack on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    16. present: The rack is on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    17. present: The thefts are placed at the bike rack on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    18. present: The thefts occurred at the bike rack on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building.
    19. present: The thefts are at the bike rack on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    20. present: It places the theft at the bike rack on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    21. present: The rack is on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    22. present: The theft is at the bike rack on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    23. present: It locates the bike rack on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    24. present: It locates the rack on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
    25. present: The rack is on Fort Washington Avenue between West 168th Street and the Black Building loading dock.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Guidance present.

    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: Readers are told to avoid non-designated bike parking and to secure bikes with a heavy-duty lock or chain.
    2. present: It tells readers to avoid non-designated parking, use a heavy-duty lock, and report incidents to Public Safety.
    3. present: It tells readers to register bikes, avoid non-designated parking, and use a heavy-duty lock or chain.
    4. present: It tells readers to use a heavy-duty lock, avoid non-designated parking, and report to Public Safety.
    5. present: It tells readers to register bikes with Operation ID, avoid non-designated parking, and use a heavy-duty lock or chain.
    6. present: Readers are told to avoid non-designated bike parking and to use a heavy-duty lock or chain.
    7. present: Readers are told to register bikes, avoid non-designated parking, use a heavy-duty lock, and report to Public Safety.
    8. present: Recipients are told to register property, avoid non-designated parking, and use a heavy-duty lock or chain.
    9. present: Readers are told to avoid non-designated bicycle parking and to secure bikes with a heavy-duty lock or chain.
    10. present: Harm reduction instructs readers to use a heavy-duty lock, avoid non-designated parking, and register property with Public Safety.
    11. present: It tells readers to register bikes, avoid non-designated parking, and use a heavy-duty lock or chain.
    12. present: Readers are told to register property, avoid non-designated parking, use a heavy-duty lock, and report to Public Safety.
    13. present: It tells readers to avoid non-designated bike parking and to use a heavy-duty lock.
    14. present: Readers are told to report to Public Safety, avoid non-designated bike parking, and use a heavy-duty lock.
    15. present: It tells readers to register bikes with Operation ID, avoid nondesignated parking, and use a heavy duty lock or chain.
    16. present: Readers are told to avoid non-designated bike parking, use a heavy duty lock, and report to Public Safety.
    17. present: Readers are told to register bikes, avoid non-designated parking, use a heavy-duty lock, and report to Public Safety.
    18. present: Readers are told to avoid non-designated bicycle parking and to secure bikes with a heavy-duty lock or chain.
    19. present: Readers are told to register property, avoid non-designated bike parking, and use a heavy-duty lock or chain.
    20. present: Readers are told to avoid non-designated bike parking, use a heavy-duty lock, and report incidents to Public Safety.
    21. present: Readers are told to register bikes, avoid non-designated parking, and use a heavy-duty lock or chain.
    22. present: Readers are told to register bikes, avoid non-designated parking, use a heavy-duty lock, and report to Public Safety.
    23. present: It tells readers to register property, avoid non-designated parking, and use a heavy-duty lock or chain.
    24. present: Readers are told to register bikes, avoid non-designated parking, use a heavy-duty lock, and report to Public Safety.
    25. present: Readers are told to register property, avoid non-designated parking, and use a heavy-duty lock.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Time present.

    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 gives Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at approximately 5:16 AM, plus a second dated clock time.
    2. present: The June 30, 2026 incident is timed at approximately 5:16 AM, and a prior June 23 incident is also dated.
    3. present: The incident occurred Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at approximately 5:16 AM.
    4. present: The latest theft is timed Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at approximately 5:16 AM.
    5. present: The latest incident is timed to Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at approximately 5:16 AM.
    6. present: The June 30, 2026 theft is timed at approximately 5:16 AM, with a second dated incident on June 23.
    7. present: The June 30, 2026 incident is timed at approximately 5:16 AM, with a June 23, 2026 7:14 PM prior theft.
    8. present: The incident is timed to Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at approximately 5:16 AM.
    9. present: The June 30, 2026 theft is given as approximately 5:16 AM, plus a second dated clock time.
    10. present: The incident is timed to Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at approximately 5:16 AM, with a second dated event as well.
    11. present: The June 30, 2026 theft is timed at approximately 5:16 AM, and a June 23 incident at 7:14 PM is dated too.
    12. present: The June 30, 2026 theft is timed at approximately 5:16 AM, and a prior dated incident is also given.
    13. present: The June 30, 2026 theft is timed at approximately 5:16 AM.
    14. present: Clock times appear for June 30, 2026 at approximately 5:16 AM and the similar June 23 incident at 7:14 PM.
    15. present: The June 30, 2026 theft is timed at approximately 5:16 AM, and a prior June 23 time is also given.
    16. present: The June 30, 2026 theft is timed at approximately 5:16 AM, plus a second dated incident.
    17. present: It timestamps the incidents at approximately 5:16 AM on June 30, 2026, and 7:14 PM on June 23, 2026.
    18. present: The June 30, 2026 theft is timed at approximately 5:16 AM, and a June 23 incident is also dated.
    19. present: The latest theft is timed at approximately 5:16 AM on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
    20. present: The June 30, 2026 theft is clocked at approximately 5:16 AM, with a prior June 23 time given too.
    21. present: The latest theft is timed to "Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at approximately 5:16 AM", and Public Safety was "recently informed".
    22. present: The June 30, 2026 incident is timed at approximately 5:16 AM, with a June 23 time given as well.
    23. present: It timestamps the thefts on June 30, 2026 at about 5:16 AM and June 23, 2026 at about 7:14 PM.
    24. present: The June 30, 2026 incident is timed at approximately 5:16 AM, with a second dated clock time as well.
    25. present: The June 30, 2026 theft is given as approximately 5:16 AM, and a June 23 time is also listed.
  • Impactabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Impact absent.

    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: Forcible removal of e-bikes names the crime and method, not harm, injury, or severity to people or property.
    2. absent: The thefts are described without any statement of injury, danger, or other consequences beyond the crime name.
    3. absent: It does not describe harm, injury, or severity beyond naming the theft.
    4. absent: Forcible removal of bikes restates the crime and does not describe harm or severity to people.
    5. absent: Forcibly removing bikes describes the theft method, not consequences such as injury, danger, or further damage.
    6. absent: The text does not say what the theft could do to people or how serious it is, only that bikes were taken.
    7. absent: Forcibly removing bikes describes how the theft happened, not a stated consequence or severity for people or property.
    8. absent: No consequence or severity language appears beyond naming the thefts.
    9. absent: No consequence or severity language describes harm beyond the stolen bicycles.
    10. absent: Forcible bike theft is described, but no injury, danger, or other harm beyond the theft is stated.
    11. absent: The text does not describe what the theft could do or how serious it is, only that bikes were taken.
    12. absent: The text does not convey harm, danger, or severity beyond naming the thefts and that bikes were forcibly removed.
    13. absent: Forcibly removed describes the theft method, not injury, danger, or other consequences.
    14. absent: Nothing describes injury, danger, or other harm beyond the bicycles being stolen.
    15. absent: The text does not describe injury, danger, or other harm beyond naming the theft itself.
    16. absent: Forcibly removing bikes describes the theft method, not consequences or how serious the harm would be.
    17. absent: No consequence or severity is stated for people or property beyond the named thefts themselves.
    18. absent: Forcible removal of bikes restates the thefts and does not add injury, danger, or other harm.
    19. absent: No consequence or severity is stated beyond naming the thefts and how the bikes were taken.
    20. absent: No injury, danger, or severity language appears beyond the fact that bikes were stolen.
    21. absent: "Forcibly removed" describes how the bikes were taken, not injury, danger, or other harm to people or property.
    22. absent: Forcibly removed describes the theft method, not a stated consequence such as injury or danger to people.
    23. absent: Forcibly removing bikes describes the theft method, not injury, danger, or other stated consequences.
    24. absent: Forcible removal describes the theft method, not a stated harm outcome or severity for people or property.
    25. absent: Forcibly removing bikes describes the theft method, not injury, danger, or other consequences.

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 W16 warning.
Analysis

Key Findings

Official PDF lists e-bike thefts on June 23 and June 30 at the Fort Washington Avenue bike rack.
Outcome
Two different suspects. Public Safety seeking tips.
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 (W16)
    publicsafety.columbia.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Columbia University: Timely warning for e-bike thefts on Fort Washington." Incident of June 23, 2026. Added September 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/columbia-university-fort-washington-ebike-thefts-2026-06-23/

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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-yorkcolumbiaivyclerymotor-vehicle-theftebikeUnder Investigation
Added September 2026Updated September 2026Via ingestion