Campus Alert Archive
MIT

Burglary at MacGregor House

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MIT Police issued a crime alert / timely warning on or about 2018-06-17. Full text is preserved from the official MIT Police Crime Alerts archive.

Alerts
1
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Private R1 · MA
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~12,000 studentsMIT Police Timely Warnings
Official alert policy
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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 verbatim2539 chars
On Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM, the MIT Police responded to MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive, for a call concerning an unknown male who had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled. The reporting party described the unknown male as: 6'0", black male, mid to late 30s, clean shaven, with short hair. He wore a white or light blue button down shirt. The reporting party stated that at approximately 6:20 PM on June 17, 2018, while in an upper floor of MacGregor House, she encountered a man she didn't know emerging from a dorm room. The reporting party knew this man was not the resident of the room and confronted him. The man stated he was testing the fire alarms. An hour later the resident of that room returned and discovered his laptop was missing from his dorm room. Around this time, another student in the same hallway discovered his backpack, containing a laptop, iPhone, and library books, was missing. Responding officers performed a thorough search of the building and area, but did not find anyone matching the description of the suspect provided by the reporting party. Suggestions 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: - Always lock your doors and windows. - Report all tailgaters, report suspicious people/activity. - See Something - Say Something: 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. - Assure that door and window locks are in good working order. - Don't prop doors open. - Document serial numbers of your electronics and take pictures of your valuables. Keep this in a safe place to provide to the police in the event you are burglarized. - Register your laptop computer. Laptop tagging is now free for the MIT community, and is offered at the IS&T Service Desk in the Atlas Center at E17-106. 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). Issued by Sgt. Andrew Turco MIT Police Department 617-253-1212
Verify this quote
MIT Police Crime Alerts & Timely Warningspolice.mit.edufind archived copies
Transcribed from official police.mit.edu crime-alert page structured fields (Incident, Suspect, Summary, Suggestions, Issued by).
Page recovered live from MIT Police Crime Alerts archive.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude Opus 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.

On Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM, the MIT Police responded to MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive, for a call concerning an unknown male who had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled. The reporting party described the unknown male as: 6'0", black male, mid to late 30s, clean shaven, with short hair. He wore a white or light blue button down shirt. The reporting party stated that at approximately 6:20 PM on June 17, 2018, while in an upper floor of MacGregor House, she encountered a man she didn't know emerging from a dorm room. The reporting party knew this man was not the resident of the room and confronted him. The man stated he was testing the fire alarms. An hour later the resident of that room returned and discovered his laptop was missing from his dorm room. Around this time, another student in the same hallway discovered his backpack, containing a laptop, iPhone, and library books, was missing. Responding officers performed a thorough search of the building and area, but did not find anyone matching the description of the suspect provided by the reporting party. Suggestions 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: - Always lock your doors and windows. - Report all tailgaters, report suspicious people/activity. - See Something - Say Something: 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. - Assure that door and window locks are in good working order. - Don't prop doors open. - Document serial numbers of your electronics and take pictures of your valuables. Keep this in a safe place to provide to the police in the event you are burglarized. - Register your laptop computer. Laptop tagging is now free for the MIT community, and is offered at the IS&T Service Desk in the Atlas Center at E17-106. 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). Issued by Sgt. Andrew Turco MIT Police Department 617-253-1212

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25: "the MIT Police responded to MacGregor House" and the message is signed by Sgt. Andrew Turco of the MIT Police Department.

    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: MIT Police responded and Sgt. Andrew Turco issues the notice with a contact number.
    2. present: "the MIT Police responded" and the Sgt. Andrew Turco signature identify the sender.
    3. present: "the MIT Police responded" and Sgt. Andrew Turco of that department issues the notice.
    4. present: Sgt. Andrew Turco of the MIT Police Department is named as the issuer.
    5. present: The notice is issued by Sgt. Andrew Turco of the MIT Police Department.
    6. present: The MIT Police responded and Sgt. Andrew Turco of the MIT Police Department issued it.
    7. present: It is issued by Sgt. Andrew Turco of the MIT Police Department, who also responded.
    8. present: "the MIT Police responded" and "Sgt. Andrew Turco" is named as issuer.
    9. present: The message is issued by Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department, who responded.
    10. present: MIT Police responded and Sgt. Andrew Turco is named as the issuer.
    11. present: It states "the MIT Police responded" and closes with Sgt. Andrew Turco's department signature.
    12. present: MIT Police responded and Sgt. Andrew Turco issued the message for the department.
    13. present: "the MIT Police responded" and Sgt. Andrew Turco signs for the MIT Police Department.
    14. present: Sgt. Andrew Turco and the MIT Police are plainly named as the source.
    15. present: "the MIT Police responded" and Sgt. Andrew Turco's signature identify the authority.
    16. present: Signed "Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department", and MIT Police responded to the report.
    17. present: Issued by "Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department", and MIT Police are the responders described.
    18. present: "the MIT Police responded" and Sgt. Turco signs off, naming the issuing department.
    19. present: The MIT Police responded and Sgt. Andrew Turco signs the notice.
    20. present: "the MIT Police responded" and "Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department" identify the sender.
    21. present: "the MIT Police responded" and the signature of Sgt. Andrew Turco identify the sender.
    22. present: MIT Police responded and Sgt. Andrew Turco is identified as the issuer.
    23. present: Sgt. Andrew Turco of the MIT Police Department issues it and officers responded.
    24. present: "The MIT Police responded" and the notice is signed by Sgt. Andrew Turco.
    25. present: "the MIT Police responded" and the message is issued by Sgt. Andrew Turco.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25: it concerns "an unknown male who had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled" after claiming "he was testing the fire alarms".

    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 reports "an unknown male who had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled".
    2. present: An unknown male "had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled", a residential burglary.
    3. present: It concerns "an unknown male who had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled".
    4. present: It concerns an unknown male who "had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled".
    5. present: It reports "an unknown male who had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled".
    6. present: It concerns "an unknown male who had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled".
    7. present: An unknown male "had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled" after posing as an alarm tester.
    8. present: It describes an unknown male who "had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled".
    9. present: It describes "an unknown male who had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled".
    10. present: An unknown male stealing property from two dorm rooms, posing as an alarm tester, is described.
    11. present: An unknown male "had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled", a named theft.
    12. present: It reports an unknown male who "had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled".
    13. present: It concerns "an unknown male who had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled".
    14. present: An unknown male "had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled", a burglary.
    15. present: It names an unknown male who "had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled".
    16. present: It describes "an unknown male who had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled".
    17. present: It reports "an unknown male who had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled".
    18. present: It concerns "an unknown male who had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled".
    19. present: It concerns an unknown male who "had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled".
    20. present: It concerns "an unknown male who had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled".
    21. present: It reports "an unknown male who had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled."
    22. present: An unknown male "had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled", a burglary.
    23. present: An unknown male "had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled", a theft by an intruder.
    24. present: It concerns "an unknown male who had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled".
    25. present: It describes an unknown male who "had allegedly stolen property from two dorm rooms and fled".
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25: the alert names "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive", with the encounter on an upper floor.

    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 building is "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive".
    2. present: The place is "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive."
    3. present: It names "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive".
    4. present: MacGregor House residence hall is placed "at 450 Memorial Drive".
    5. present: It names "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive".
    6. present: The place is "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive".
    7. present: The building is "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive".
    8. present: The hall is "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive".
    9. present: The building is "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive".
    10. present: MacGregor House residence hall at 450 Memorial Drive is identified.
    11. present: The building is "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive".
    12. present: The hall is MacGregor House, a residence hall "at 450 Memorial Drive", upper floor.
    13. present: The location is "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive", upper floor.
    14. present: It names "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive".
    15. present: The building is "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive".
    16. present: It names "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive".
    17. present: The site is "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive".
    18. present: The place is "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive".
    19. present: It names "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive".
    20. present: Place is "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive", upper floor.
    21. present: The place is "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive."
    22. present: MacGregor House is "a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive".
    23. present: The response was to "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive".
    24. present: It names "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive".
    25. present: The site is "MacGregor House, a residence hall, at 450 Memorial Drive".
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25: recipients are told to "Always lock your doors and windows", to "Report all tailgaters", not to prop doors, and to register laptops at the IS and T Service Desk.

    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 lock doors, report tailgaters, and call police about suspicious activity.
    2. present: Readers are told to lock doors, report tailgaters and suspicious activity, and call police immediately.
    3. present: It asks readers to lock doors, avoid propping them, and report suspicious activity.
    4. present: Recipients are told to lock doors, not prop them, and report suspicious people to police.
    5. present: Readers are instructed to lock doors, report tailgaters and suspicious activity, and register laptops.
    6. present: It urges residents to lock doors, report tailgaters, and register laptops for recovery.
    7. present: Readers are directed to lock doors, report tailgaters and suspicious people, and call MIT Police.
    8. present: Readers are told to lock doors, report suspicious people, and document serial numbers of electronics.
    9. present: It advises locking doors and windows, reporting tailgaters and documenting serial numbers.
    10. present: It tells readers to lock doors, report tailgaters and suspicious activity, and call MIT Police immediately.
    11. present: Readers are instructed to lock doors, report tailgaters, and notify MIT Police immediately.
    12. present: Recipients are told to lock doors, report tailgaters, and notify MIT Police of suspicious activity.
    13. present: Readers are advised to lock doors, report tailgaters, and notify MIT Police of suspicious activity.
    14. present: It instructs readers to lock doors, report tailgaters, and call MIT Police immediately.
    15. present: It urges locking doors, reporting tailgaters, and calling MIT Police immediately.
    16. present: It instructs readers to lock doors, avoid propping them, and report suspicious people immediately.
    17. present: It instructs readers to lock doors, report tailgaters, and notify MIT Police of crimes.
    18. present: Readers are told to lock doors, not prop them, and report suspicious people immediately.
    19. present: Readers are instructed to lock doors, report tailgaters, and notify MIT Police of crimes.
    20. present: It asks readers to lock doors, report tailgaters, and notify MIT Police about suspicious activity.
    21. present: Recipients are told to lock doors, report tailgaters, and notify MIT Police about suspicious people.
    22. present: Recipients are told to lock doors, not prop them, and to report suspicious people.
    23. present: Readers are urged to lock doors, avoid propping them and report suspicious people.
    24. present: It tells readers to lock doors, report tailgaters, and notify MIT Police immediately.
    25. present: Guidance includes locking doors, reporting tailgaters and immediately notifying MIT Police.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25: the response is fixed at "Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM", an hour after the roughly 6:20 PM hallway encounter.

    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: Clock times are given, including the 7:20 PM response and the 6:20 PM encounter on June 17, 2018.
    2. present: Times are precise: response at approximately 7:20 PM and the encounter around 6:20 PM on June 17, 2018.
    3. present: The response is timed "On Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM".
    4. present: It gives "Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM" and an encounter at 6:20 PM.
    5. present: Times are precise: the response "at approximately 7:20 PM" and the encounter "at approximately 6:20 PM".
    6. present: Times given as approximately 7:20 PM and 6:20 PM on "Sunday, June 17, 2018".
    7. present: Times are precise: police responded at 7:20 PM after the 6:20 PM encounter on June 17, 2018.
    8. present: Times are given, "Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM" and the 6:20 PM encounter.
    9. present: It notes "Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM" and an encounter around 6:20 PM.
    10. present: Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM and the 6:20 PM encounter are stated.
    11. present: It is timed "On Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM", with an earlier 6:20 PM encounter.
    12. present: It gives "Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM" and the 6:20 PM encounter.
    13. present: Times are given as approximately 7:20 PM and an encounter around 6:20 PM on June 17, 2018.
    14. present: The response is dated "Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM".
    15. present: "On Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM" and a 6:20 PM encounter are given.
    16. present: It gives "Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM" and an encounter around 6:20 PM.
    17. present: The response time is "Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM", with a 6:20 PM encounter.
    18. present: It opens "On Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM" with a 6:20 PM encounter.
    19. present: Times are precise: response "at approximately 7:20 PM" and the encounter "at approximately 6:20 PM".
    20. present: "Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM" and the 6:20 PM encounter set the time.
    21. present: "On Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM" and a 6:20 PM encounter are given.
    22. present: Times given include "Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM" and an earlier 6:20 PM encounter.
    23. present: It is timed "On Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM" with a 6:20 PM encounter.
    24. present: It gives "Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM" and the 6:20 PM encounter.
    25. present: Dated "Sunday, June 17, 2018 at approximately 7:20 PM" with a 6:20 PM encounter.
  • Impactpresent16/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 16 of 25: the losses are itemized as a missing laptop and a "backpack, containing a laptop, iPhone, and library books". Nine reads argued that listing property is not a severity statement.

    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: The losses are itemized: a laptop, and a backpack holding a laptop, iPhone and library books.
    2. absent: Laptops and a backpack were taken, yet no danger or severity is conveyed to the reader.
    3. absent: Stolen laptops and a backpack are listed, but no harm or severity is asserted.
    4. present: Losses include "his laptop", plus a backpack with "a laptop, iPhone, and library books".
    5. absent: Though the man posed as a fire alarm tester, the text asserts no harm or seriousness.
    6. present: Two students lost property: a laptop, and a backpack "containing a laptop, iPhone, and library books".
    7. present: The harm is itemized: a missing laptop plus a backpack holding "a laptop, iPhone, and library books".
    8. present: Two students lost property, including "a laptop, iPhone, and library books" in a stolen backpack.
    9. present: Two students lost property: a laptop and a backpack holding a laptop, iPhone and library books.
    10. present: A laptop and a backpack holding a laptop, iPhone and library books were lost to the intruder.
    11. absent: The losses are itemized but no consequence for personal safety or severity is conveyed.
    12. present: Two students lost property, including a laptop and a backpack with a laptop, iPhone and books.
    13. present: A laptop went missing and another student lost "his backpack, containing a laptop, iPhone, and library books".
    14. absent: The suspect posing as a fire alarm tester is described without any stated danger.
    15. present: A laptop and a backpack with laptop, iPhone and library books were lost, a concrete consequence.
    16. present: Multiple losses are listed: a laptop plus "a backpack, containing a laptop, iPhone, and library books".
    17. absent: Laptops and a backpack were taken, but the text states no danger or severity.
    18. present: Losses are itemized: a laptop and a backpack "containing a laptop, iPhone, and library books".
    19. present: Losses are listed: a missing laptop and a backpack with a laptop, iPhone, and library books.
    20. absent: A man posing as a fire alarm tester stole laptops, yet no harm or severity is stated.
    21. absent: Stolen laptops and a backpack are listed, yet no severity or danger is conveyed.
    22. present: Two students lost a laptop and a backpack holding a laptop, iPhone, and library books.
    23. absent: The suspect posed as a fire alarm tester but no danger or severity is stated.
    24. present: A laptop went missing and another student lost a backpack with a laptop, iPhone, and books.
    25. present: Two students lost property including a laptop and a backpack with a laptop, iPhone and books.

Coded by Claude Opus 5

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

About this analysis
Context

Background

MIT Police publishes Clery timely warnings and crime alerts at police.mit.edu/crime-alert with full incident narrative, safety guidance, and issuer attribution. This entry is from residual archive recovery for Burglary at MacGregor House.
Analysis

Key Findings

Official MIT Police crime-alert page preserves complete timely-warning narrative text.
Outcome
MIT Police investigation status as stated in the official crime alert.
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
    Burglary at MacGregor House | MIT Police
    police.mit.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Burglary at MacGregor House." Incident of June 17, 2018. Added July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/mit-burglary-macgregor-house-2018-06-17/

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

Tags
mitmassachusetts-institute-of-technologytimely-warningburglarycrime-alertUnder Investigation
Added July 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion