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Timely warning for forced-entry burglary at Alpha Chi Omega

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On February 11, 2025, MIT Police issued a timely warning for a forced-entry burglary at Alpha Chi Omega (478 Commonwealth Ave.) in which food, clothing, and an electric scooter were stolen.

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Private R1 · MA
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~12,000 studentsMIT Police Timely Warnings
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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 verbatim2122 chars
On February 11, 2025, at approximately 1:35 PM, the MIT Police responded to 478 Commonwealth Ave. (Alpha Chi Omega Sorority) regarding a burglary. According to video surveillance provided by the residents, an unknown male approached the front basement door at approximately 3:30 AM and forcibly entered the residence. The suspect stole food items, clothing and an electric scooter. Pry marks were discovered on the front basement entrance door to the residence. According to video surveillance provided by the residents, the suspect is described as a male, wearing a baseball hat, light colored jacket and a backpack. While victims of crimes are never to blame for criminal activity, there are some precautions that can be taken. In order to protect yourself and your belongings from theft and/or facilitate the recovery of your stolen property, MIT Police encourage you to follow these tips: • Immediately notify the MIT Police at 617-253-1212 or 100 from any campus phone if you believe a crime is occurring, has occurred, or is about to occur. • Always lock your residential doors and windows. Assure that the locks are in good working order. Close and lock first floor windows at night or when not at home. If windows have a box air conditioner, consider using a brace to prevent intruders from using those windows as a way to gain entry. • Lock your residential door if you are leaving (even if only for a minute or two). • When entering or exiting a residence or, make sure the door closes tightly behind you. • Report suspicious people or activity or individuals behaving in a suspicious, erratic, dangerous manner. • Report all tailgaters. The MIT Police want to remind the MIT community that we are located in an urban setting and share many of the crime and safety issues that exist in any city. The MIT Police are investigating this crime and request the assistance from the MIT community. If you wish to leave an anonymous tip please call 617-258-TIPS (8-8477). Sgt. David J O'Connor MIT Police Department Crime Prevention Unit 565-570 Memorial Drive Cambridge, Ma. 02139 617-253-1212
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MIT Police timely warningpolice.mit.edufind archived copies
Full official notice text recovered from public university source.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude (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.

On February 11, 2025, at approximately 1:35 PM, the MIT Police responded to 478 Commonwealth Ave. (Alpha Chi Omega Sorority) regarding a burglary. According to video surveillance provided by the residents, an unknown male approached the front basement door at approximately 3:30 AM and forcibly entered the residence. The suspect stole food items, clothing and an electric scooter. Pry marks were discovered on the front basement entrance door to the residence. According to video surveillance provided by the residents, the suspect is described as a male, wearing a baseball hat, light colored jacket and a backpack. While victims of crimes are never to blame for criminal activity, there are some precautions that can be taken. In order to protect yourself and your belongings from theft and/or facilitate the recovery of your stolen property, MIT Police encourage you to follow these tips: • Immediately notify the MIT Police at 617-253-1212 or 100 from any campus phone if you believe a crime is occurring, has occurred, or is about to occur. • Always lock your residential doors and windows. Assure that the locks are in good working order. Close and lock first floor windows at night or when not at home. If windows have a box air conditioner, consider using a brace to prevent intruders from using those windows as a way to gain entry. • Lock your residential door if you are leaving (even if only for a minute or two). • When entering or exiting a residence or, make sure the door closes tightly behind you. • Report suspicious people or activity or individuals behaving in a suspicious, erratic, dangerous manner. • Report all tailgaters. The MIT Police want to remind the MIT community that we are located in an urban setting and share many of the crime and safety issues that exist in any city. The MIT Police are investigating this crime and request the assistance from the MIT community. If you wish to leave an anonymous tip please call 617-258-TIPS (8-8477). Sgt. David J O'Connor MIT Police Department Crime Prevention Unit 565-570 Memorial Drive Cambridge, Ma. 02139 617-253-1212

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 agree (1): "The MIT Police" responded and relay video-based suspect details plus safety tips.

    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 MIT Police" responded and relay video-based suspect details plus safety tips.
    2. present: Because MIT Police responded to the sorority burglary and cite resident video of the suspect.
    3. present: Checklist pass: MIT Police responded to the sorority address and supplies the prevention tips.
    4. present: The MIT Police are named as the agency that responded to the report.
    5. present: MIT Police responded to the burglary complaint and issued standard theft-prevention guidance.
    6. present: Video shows an unknown man in a baseball hat forced a basement door at Alpha Chi Omega about 3:30 AM on Feb. 11, 2025, and stole food, clothing, and an electric scooter.
    7. present: MIT Police responded on Alpha Chi Omega burglary.
    8. present: MIT Police responded to the burglary report at Alpha Chi Omega.
    9. present: "MIT Police" names the responding agency.
    10. present: On a second look, MIT Police is still named as the agency that responded regarding the burglary.
    11. present: MIT Police responded to the sorority burglary and issued standard prevention guidance with tip lines.
    12. present: MIT Police is named as the responding campus safety authority for this burglary notice.
    13. present: The MIT Police is identified as the responding authority that investigated the burglary and that provides the accompanying safety tips.
    14. present: MIT Police responded on resident video.
    15. present: MIT Police is the responding agency cited in the surveillance-based burglary account.
    16. present: MIT Police responded to the sorority and put out the notice.
    17. present: The text attributes the response and tips to MIT Police and concludes with that source.
    18. present: Present because the MIT Police responded to the burglary and issue the crime prevention tips.
    19. present: Source is MIT Police who responded regarding the sorority burglary and reviewed resident video.
    20. present: MIT Police is named as the responding department, attribution that would be absent if no agency were listed.
    21. present: Identifies MIT Police as the agency that responded to the burglary report.
    22. present: The MIT Police are named as responders relying on resident video for the account.
    23. present: The alert names the MIT Police as the agency that responded regarding the burglary.
    24. present: Recipients can credit MIT Police as the source that responded and relayed resident video of the break-in.
    25. present: The notice identifies MIT Police as the agency that responded and provided tips.
  • Hazardpresent24/25

    Final assessment

    Majority 24/25 codes 1: The hazard is "burglary" with forced entry and theft of food, clothing, and an "electric scooter."

    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 "burglary" with forced entry and theft of food, clothing, and an "electric scooter."
    2. present: Because an unknown male forcibly entered and committed burglary of the residence.
    3. present: Checklist pass: forced basement entry burglary with pry marks and theft of items is the hazard.
    4. present: It reports a burglary with forced entry into the residence.
    5. present: The hazard is a forced-entry burglary through the front basement door with theft of multiple personal items.
    6. absent: forced entry burglary
    7. present: Forced basement entry burglary of residence.
    8. present: MIT Police reports a burglary with forced entry through the front basement door and theft of property.
    9. present: "burglary" with forced entry and stolen food, clothing, and an electric scooter names the hazard.
    10. present: Reading it again, the hazard is burglary with forced basement entry and stolen property.
    11. present: Hazard is forced-entry burglary via the front basement door with theft of food, clothing, and an electric scooter.
    12. present: The hazard is a forced-entry burglary of a sorority residence.
    13. present: The hazard is a burglary involving forced entry through a basement door and theft of property from the residence.
    14. present: Burglary with forced basement entry and property theft.
    15. present: Forced-entry burglary with property removal constitutes the central hazard in the text.
    16. present: Someone forced the basement door and burglarized the house.
    17. present: The text reports a burglary with forcible basement entry and theft of food, clothing, and an electric scooter and concludes on that hazard.
    18. present: Present because a burglary involved forced basement entry and theft of food, clothing, and an electric scooter.
    19. present: Hazard is burglary with forced entry through the front basement door and theft of property.
    20. present: Forced-entry burglary with food, clothing, and an electric scooter stolen is the hazard, a crime type that would be vague without those facts.
    21. present: Names a burglary with forced entry through the basement door.
    22. present: Forced entry burglary is described, including pry marks on a basement door.
    23. present: The alert describes a forced-entry burglary with property taken from the sorority residence.
    24. present: Recipients are warned of a forced-entry burglary where food, clothing, and an electric scooter were stolen.
    25. present: The alert states a burglary with forced basement entry and theft of food, clothing, and an electric scooter.
  • Locationpresent24/25

    Final assessment

    Majority 24/25 codes 1: The address is "478 Commonwealth Ave. (Alpha Chi Omega Sorority)."

    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 address is "478 Commonwealth Ave. (Alpha Chi Omega Sorority)."
    2. present: Since the address is 478 Commonwealth Ave at Alpha Chi Omega Sorority via the front basement door.
    3. present: Checklist pass: 478 Commonwealth Ave., Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, is the site of entry and theft.
    4. present: It places the burglary at 478 Commonwealth Ave, the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
    5. present: The residence is Alpha Chi Omega at 478 Commonwealth Ave., with entry at the front basement door.
    6. absent: 478 Commonwealth Ave., Alpha Chi Omega Sorority; front basement entrance
    7. present: 478 Commonwealth Ave, Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
    8. present: MIT Police locates the incident at 478 Commonwealth Ave, Alpha Chi Omega Sorority.
    9. present: "478 Commonwealth Ave. (Alpha Chi Omega Sorority)" states the location.
    10. present: If you double-check, 478 Commonwealth Ave. Alpha Chi Omega Sorority is the stated address.
    11. present: The residence is 478 Commonwealth Ave. (Alpha Chi Omega Sorority), focused on the front basement entrance.
    12. present: We place the incident at 478 Commonwealth Ave., Alpha Chi Omega Sorority.
    13. present: The incident is located at 478 Commonwealth Ave., Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, specifically at the front basement entrance door.
    14. present: 478 Commonwealth Ave, Alpha Chi Omega Sorority.
    15. present: The location is 478 Commonwealth Ave., identified as the Alpha Chi Omega sorority residence.
    16. present: The address is 478 Commonwealth Ave, Alpha Chi Omega, at the front basement door.
    17. present: The text sets the crime at 478 Commonwealth Ave., Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, and concludes with that residence.
    18. present: Present because the site is 478 Commonwealth Ave., Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, at the front basement door.
    19. present: Location is 478 Commonwealth Ave Alpha Chi Omega Sorority where the basement door was forced.
    20. present: 478 Commonwealth Ave Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and its front basement door fix the site that would be unlocated without that address.
    21. present: Places the burglary at 478 Commonwealth Ave, Alpha Chi Omega Sorority.
    22. present: The burglary is placed at 478 Commonwealth Ave., Alpha Chi Omega Sorority.
    23. present: The alert sites the burglary at 478 Commonwealth Ave., Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, via the front basement door.
    24. present: Recipients place the crime at 478 Commonwealth Ave Alpha Chi Omega Sorority via the front basement door.
    25. present: The text gives 478 Commonwealth Ave., Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, as the residence.
  • Guidancepresent24/25

    Final assessment

    Majority 24/25 codes 1: Guidance is to notify MIT Police at "617-253-1212" and "Always lock your residential doors and window" openings.

    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: Guidance is to notify MIT Police at "617-253-1212" and "Always lock your residential doors and window" openings.
    2. present: Because tips tell people to notify MIT Police at once and always lock residential doors and windows.
    3. present: Checklist pass: recipients are told to notify MIT Police at once and to lock residential doors and windows.
    4. present: It tells people to call MIT Police about crimes and to keep doors and windows locked.
    5. present: Recipients are instructed to notify MIT Police at 617-253-1212 or 100 and to keep residential doors and windows locked.
    6. absent: notify MIT Police at 617-253-1212 or 100 from campus phone if crime is occurring; lock residential doors and windows
    7. present: Notify MITPD; lock residential doors and windows.
    8. present: MIT Police tells recipients to call 617-253-1212 or 100 if a crime is occurring and to keep residential doors and windows locked.
    9. present: "Immediately notify the MIT Police at 617-253-1212" and "Always lock your residential doors" instruct protective actions.
    10. present: A closer read still starts recipient tips to call MIT Police and to lock residential doors and windows.
    11. present: Recipients should call MIT Police at 617-253-1212 or 100 if crime is occurring or imminent, and always lock residential doors and windows.
    12. present: Recipients are told to notify MIT Police about crimes and to lock residential doors and windows.
    13. present: Recipients are directed to notify MIT Police at 617-253-1212 or 100 from a campus phone and to keep residential doors and windows locked.
    14. present: Notify MIT Police at 617-253-1212 or 100 if crime is underway or likely; lock doors and windows.
    15. present: Standard tips urge prompt reporting to MIT Police and securing of residential doors and windows.
    16. present: They tell you to call MIT Police at 617-253-1212 if a crime is up and to keep residential doors and windows locked.
    17. present: The text encourages calling MIT Police at 617-253-1212 or 100 and locking residential doors and windows and concludes with those steps.
    18. present: Present because recipients should notify MIT Police at 617-253-1212 or 100 and always lock residential doors and windows.
    19. present: Guidance begins the standard tips to notify police and lock residential doors though the list is truncated.
    20. present: Notify MIT Police at 617-253-1212 and lock residential doors are recipient steps that a pure incident summary would lack.
    21. present: Instructs recipients to notify MIT Police about crimes and to lock residential doors and windows.
    22. present: Recipients are told to notify MIT Police at once if a crime is believed to be occurring and to keep residential doors and windows locked.
    23. present: The alert encourages immediate notification to MIT Police and locking residential doors and windows.
    24. present: Recipients should call MIT Police if crime is suspected and always lock residential doors and windows.
    25. present: The message notes recipients should notify MIT Police promptly and always lock residential doors and windows.
  • Timepresent24/25

    Final assessment

    Majority 24/25 codes 1: Police responded "February 11, 2025, at approximately 1:35 PM" after entry about "3:30 AM."

    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: Police responded "February 11, 2025, at approximately 1:35 PM" after entry about "3:30 AM."
    2. present: Because forced entry was about 3:30 AM with police response on February 11, 2025 at about 1:35 PM.
    3. present: Checklist pass: police response about 1:35 PM on February 11, 2025 with video showing entry about 3:30 AM.
    4. present: Police responded around 1:35 PM on February 11, 2025, and video shows entry around 3:30 AM.
    5. present: Police response was about 1:35 PM on February 11, 2025, while video shows forced entry near 3:30 AM.
    6. absent: entry about 3:30 AM; police response about 1:35 PM on February 11, 2025
    7. present: Entry ~3:30 AM; report ~1:35 PM Feb 11 2025.
    8. present: MIT Police responded February 11, 2025 at about 1:35 PM for a forced entry seen on video at approximately 3:30 AM.
    9. present: "February 11, 2025, at approximately 1:35 PM" and entry "at approximately 3:30 AM" convey when it was reported and occurred.
    10. present: Looking again, response is February 11, 2025 about 1:35 PM after a about 3:30 AM forced entry.
    11. present: Police responded February 11, 2025, at about 1:35 PM for a forced entry captured at approximately 3:30 AM.
    12. present: Forced entry is timed near 3:30 AM, with police response about 1:35 PM on February 11, 2025.
    13. present: Police responded on February 11, 2025, at approximately 1:35 PM, while video places the forced entry at approximately 3:30 AM.
    14. present: Police about 1:35 PM Feb. 11, 2025; entry about 3:30 AM per video.
    15. present: Entry is timed near 3:30 AM with a police response at approximately 1:35 PM on February 11, 2025.
    16. present: Police responded about 1:35 PM on February 11, 2025, and video shows the break-in around 3:30 AM.
    17. present: The text gives February 11, 2025 at about 1:35 PM for response and about 3:30 AM for the forced entry and concludes with those times.
    18. present: Present because police responded February 11, 2025 at about 1:35 PM and video shows entry about 3:30 AM.
    19. present: Time includes forced entry about 3:30 AM with police response about 1:35 PM on February 11, 2025.
    20. present: February 11, 2025 at about 1:35 PM and about 3:30 AM time the response and entry, stamps that would be void without them.
    21. present: Gives the police response at about 1:35 PM on February 11, 2025 and entry near 3:30 AM.
    22. present: Police response is placed on February 11, 2025 at about 1:35 PM, with forced entry at about 3:30 AM.
    23. present: The alert times the police response at about 1:35 PM on February 11, 2025 and the forced entry near 3:30 AM.
    24. present: Recipients learn forced entry about 3:30 AM with police response near 1:35 PM on February 11, 2025.
    25. present: The report shows police response about 1:35 PM on February 11, 2025, after forced entry near 3:30 AM.
  • Impactpresent20/25

    Final assessment

    Majority 20/25 codes 1: Impact includes forced basement entry with "Pry marks" and multiple item types stolen beyond a bare burglary tag.

    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. present: Impact includes forced basement entry with "Pry marks" and multiple item types stolen beyond a bare burglary tag.
    2. present: Since food, clothing, and an electric scooter were stolen and pry marks were found on the basement door.
    3. present: Checklist pass: food, clothing, and an electric scooter are listed as stolen property impacts beyond the burglary name.
    4. present: It says food, clothing, and an electric scooter were stolen, and pry marks were found on the basement door.
    5. present: Stolen property included food, clothing, and an electric scooter, with pry marks left on the basement entrance.
    6. absent: food, clothing, and electric scooter stolen; pry marks on basement door
    7. present: Food, clothing, e-scooter taken; pry marks on door.
    8. present: MIT Police reports food, clothing, and an electric scooter were stolen and pry marks were found on the basement door.
    9. absent: "stole food items, clothing and an electric scooter" details losses without severity language beyond the burglary.
    10. present: On re-examination, food, clothing, and an electric scooter stolen plus pry marks are impacts beyond burglary.
    11. present: Impacts include multiple property categories stolen plus pry marks confirming physical compromise of the basement door.
    12. present: Impact includes theft of food, clothing, and an electric scooter, plus pry marks on the basement entrance.
    13. present: Beyond naming burglary, the notice lists stolen food items, clothing, and an electric scooter, and documents pry marks on the basement entrance door.
    14. present: Food, clothing, and an electric scooter stolen; pry marks on front basement door.
    15. present: Impacts include stolen food, clothing, and an electric scooter, plus pry marks on the basement door.
    16. present: Food, clothing, and an electric scooter were stolen, and there were pry marks on the door.
    17. present: The text notes pry marks on the basement door and lists stolen food, clothing, and an electric scooter and concludes those specifics go beyond the hazard name.
    18. absent: Absent because stolen items and pry marks describe the burglary method and loss without added severity wording.
    19. present: Impact includes stolen food items clothing and an electric scooter plus pry marks on the door.
    20. absent: Listing stolen items describes the burglary outcome without added severity such as injury or ongoing danger language.
    21. absent: Lists stolen food, clothing, and a scooter without stating further severity.
    22. present: Food items, clothing, and an electric scooter were stolen after the basement door was forced.
    23. present: The alert lists stolen food, clothing, and an electric scooter plus pry marks on the basement door.
    24. present: Recipients see pry marks and multiple stolen item types, showing tangible loss beyond the burglary label alone.
    25. present: The text notes pry marks on the basement door and a video based suspect clothing description.

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

About this analysis
Context

Background

MIT Police maintains a public timely-warnings archive. This incident's full notice is recovered from the official crime-alert page.
Analysis

Key Findings

Official MITPD timely-warning narrative with location and guidance
Outcome
MIT Police investigation ongoing; community tips requested in the notice.
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
    MIT Police timely warning
    police.mit.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Timely warning for forced-entry burglary at Alpha Chi Omega." Incident of February 11, 2025. Added July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/mit-alpha-chi-omega-burglary-2025-02-11/

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

Tags
burglarytimely-warningmit2025Under Investigation
Added July 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion