Campus Alert Archive
MIT

Burglary at Student House

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MAburglarytimely warninghigh confidence
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Under Investigation

MIT Police issued a timely warning on or about 2023-08-22. Full text is preserved from the official Crime Alerts & Timely Warnings 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
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Read when and how MIT says it will use MIT Alert: 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 verbatim2486 chars
On August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs., the MIT Police responded to Student House, an MIT Independent Living Group located at 111 Bay State Road in Boston on a report of a burglary. The reporting party stated that she returned to her room and observed a male standing in her room. She called out to the suspect and he then fled her room. MIT Police conducted a thorough search of the house and concluded that the suspect was no longer in the residence. During the search officers discovered numerous open windows in the rear of the house. The investigation into this matter is ongoing. At 10:00AM, MIT Police detectives received information that two (2) laptop computers and a wallet had been stolen sometime overnight from this residence. MIT Police Detectives have identified a person of interest in this investigation.. The suspect is described as male, 5’10”, medium build, unknown race/ethnicity, wearing dark basketball shorts and a purple hooded pullover with the numbers 17 or 11 on the back of the hood. The numbers were white with a black outline. 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 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. 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). MIT Police Crime Prevention/Community Policing Unit MIT Police 565-570 Memorial Drive Cambridge, Ma. 02139 617-253-1212
Verify this quote
MIT Police Crime Alerts & Timely Warnings (police.mit.edu)police.mit.edufind archived copies
Full text from official MIT Police timely warning page
2026-09-21 second deep audit P2 chrome R1: live police.mit.edu timely-warning page product ends at the issuer/Clery close. Drupal CSS, Google Analytics, page-title line, and Emergency 24/7 sidebar are page furniture. Paired demote+correct. Cap-exempt.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude Opus 5.5 (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 August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs., the MIT Police responded to Student House, an MIT Independent Living Group located at 111 Bay State Road in Boston on a report of a burglary. The reporting party stated that she returned to her room and observed a male standing in her room. She called out to the suspect and he then fled her room. MIT Police conducted a thorough search of the house and concluded that the suspect was no longer in the residence. During the search officers discovered numerous open windows in the rear of the house. The investigation into this matter is ongoing. At 10:00AM, MIT Police detectives received information that two (2) laptop computers and a wallet had been stolen sometime overnight from this residence. MIT Police Detectives have identified a person of interest in this investigation.. The suspect is described as male, 5’10”, medium build, unknown race/ethnicity, wearing dark basketball shorts and a purple hooded pullover with the numbers 17 or 11 on the back of the hood. The numbers were white with a black outline. 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 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. 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). MIT Police Crime Prevention/Community Policing Unit MIT Police 565-570 Memorial Drive Cambridge, Ma. 02139 617-253-1212

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, unanimously: it says the MIT Police responded and closes with the MIT Police Crime Prevention unit's issuing block.

    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.
    2. present: Issued by the MIT Police Crime Prevention unit.
    3. present: It names MIT Police as responder and issuer.
    4. present: Names the 'MIT Police'.
    5. present: It names the MIT Police as responder and issuer.
    6. present: Signed by the MIT Police Crime Prevention unit.
    7. present: Issued by MIT Police.
    8. present: Issued by MIT Police.
    9. present: It is from the MIT Police Crime Prevention unit.
    10. present: Issued by the MIT Police Crime Prevention unit.
    11. present: Issued by the MIT Police.
    12. present: It is issued by the MIT Police.
    13. present: Issued by the MIT Police Crime Prevention unit.
    14. present: The MIT Police are named as issuer.
    15. present: MIT Police are named as issuer.
    16. present: The MIT Police are named as the responding agency and the notice is signed by their Crime Prevention unit.
    17. present: It is signed by the MIT Police Crime Prevention/Community Policing Unit, naming the issuer.
    18. present: It says 'the MIT Police responded' and closes with the MIT Police Crime Prevention unit's contact block.
    19. present: It states that 'the MIT Police responded' and closes with the MIT Police Crime Prevention unit signature.
    20. present: It names 'the MIT Police' as the responding agency and is signed by the MIT Police Crime Prevention Unit.
    21. present: It states 'the MIT Police responded' and closes with the MIT Police Crime Prevention Unit.
    22. present: It names the MIT Police as responders and is issued by the MIT Police Crime Prevention unit.
    23. present: It says 'the MIT Police responded' and closes with the MIT Police Crime Prevention unit.
    24. present: It is signed by the 'MIT Police Crime Prevention/Community Policing Unit', naming the sender.
    25. present: The notice says 'the MIT Police responded' and is signed by the MIT Police Crime Prevention unit.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, unanimously: it names a burglary in which a male was found standing in a resident's room and laptops and a wallet were stolen.

    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: Burglary with intruder in a room.
    2. present: It names a burglary with a male intruder in a room.
    3. present: It names a burglary with an intruder in a room.
    4. present: Names a 'burglary' with an intruder in a room.
    5. present: It names "a burglary" with an intruder in a room.
    6. present: It names a burglary with an intruder in a room.
    7. present: Names a burglary with an intruder in a room.
    8. present: Names a burglary with an intruder in a room.
    9. present: It names a burglary with an intruder in a room.
    10. present: It names a 'burglary' with a male intruder in a room.
    11. present: It names a burglary.
    12. present: It names a burglary with an intruder in a room.
    13. present: It names a burglary with an intruder in a room.
    14. present: It reports a burglary with an intruder in a room.
    15. present: A burglary with an intruder in a room.
    16. present: It describes 'a burglary' in which a male intruder was found standing in a resident's room.
    17. present: It names a burglary in which a male intruder was found standing in a resident's room.
    18. present: It names a 'burglary' in which a male was found standing in a resident's room and laptops were stolen.
    19. present: It names a 'burglary' in which an intruder was found standing in a resident's room.
    20. present: It reports 'a burglary' where a male was found standing in a resident's room and laptops were stolen.
    21. present: It names 'a burglary', with a male found standing in a resident's room and items stolen.
    22. present: It reports a 'burglary' with an intruder found in a resident's room and laptops stolen.
    23. present: It names a 'burglary' in which a male was found standing in a resident's room.
    24. present: It names a 'burglary', with an intruder found standing in a resident's room.
    25. present: It names a 'burglary' with a male found standing in a resident's room and laptops stolen.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, unanimously: it names Student House, an MIT independent living group at 111 Bay State Road in Boston.

    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: Student House, 111 Bay State Road.
    2. present: Student House at 111 Bay State Road in Boston.
    3. present: It gives Student House at 111 Bay State Road.
    4. present: Gives 'Student House ... 111 Bay State Road in Boston'.
    5. present: It gives Student House at "111 Bay State Road in Boston".
    6. present: It says Student House, 111 Bay State Road in Boston.
    7. present: Gives Student House at '111 Bay State Road'.
    8. present: Gives Student House at 111 Bay State Road.
    9. present: It gives Student House at '111 Bay State Road in Boston'.
    10. present: It gives Student House at 111 Bay State Road in Boston.
    11. present: It says Student House at 111 Bay State Road.
    12. present: It gives Student House at 111 Bay State Road.
    13. present: It gives Student House at 111 Bay State Road.
    14. present: It names Student House at 111 Bay State Road.
    15. present: Student House, 111 Bay State Road.
    16. present: The notice names Student House, an MIT independent living group, at '111 Bay State Road in Boston'.
    17. present: It places the burglary at Student House, 111 Bay State Road in Boston, a specific residence.
    18. present: The notice names Student House, an MIT independent living group, at '111 Bay State Road in Boston'.
    19. present: It gives Student House at '111 Bay State Road in Boston'.
    20. present: It names 'Student House' at '111 Bay State Road in Boston' as the specific residence where the burglary occurred.
    21. present: It places the incident at Student House, '111 Bay State Road in Boston'.
    22. present: It gives 'Student House ... located at 111 Bay State Road in Boston'.
    23. present: It places the event at Student House, '111 Bay State Road in Boston'.
    24. present: It locates the event at 'Student House', 111 Bay State Road in Boston.
    25. present: It locates the event at Student House, '111 Bay State Road in Boston'.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, unanimously: the tips tell readers to lock doors and to close and lock first floor windows at night, concrete protective steps.

    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: Tips such as locking doors and windows.
    2. present: Tips tell readers to lock doors and windows and report tailgaters.
    3. present: Tips instruct locking windows and doors and reporting tailgaters.
    4. present: Tips instruct 'Close and lock first floor windows at night'.
    5. present: Tips tell readers to lock doors and windows and notify MIT Police.
    6. present: Tips instruct locking doors and first floor windows.
    7. present: Tips tell residents to lock doors and windows.
    8. present: Tips say always lock doors and windows and report suspicious people.
    9. present: Tips say to lock doors and windows and report tailgaters.
    10. present: Tips instruct locking doors and windows and reporting suspicious people.
    11. present: Tips tell readers to lock doors and windows.
    12. present: Tips tell readers to lock doors and windows.
    13. present: Tips tell readers to lock doors and windows.
    14. present: Tips tell readers to lock doors and windows.
    15. present: Tips such as locking doors and windows.
    16. present: It advises readers to 'Close and lock first floor windows at night' and to report suspicious people.
    17. present: The tips advise closing and locking first floor windows and locking residential doors, protective actions.
    18. present: Its tips tell readers to 'Close and lock first floor windows at night', a concrete protective step.
    19. present: Tips tell readers to lock doors and 'Close and lock first floor windows at night'.
    20. present: The tips instruct readers to 'Close and lock first floor windows at night' and to lock residential doors.
    21. present: Tips instruct readers to 'Close and lock first floor windows at night' and lock residential doors.
    22. present: The tips say to 'Close and lock first floor windows at night' and lock doors, which are protective actions.
    23. present: Tips advise to 'Close and lock first floor windows at night' and report tailgaters.
    24. present: Tips say 'Close and lock first floor windows at night', a protective instruction.
    25. present: Its tips instruct readers to 'Close and lock first floor windows at night', a protective action.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, unanimously: it states August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs., and a follow-up at 10:00AM.

    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: August 22, 2023 at 04:42.
    2. present: It states August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.
    3. present: It gives "August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.".
    4. present: States 'August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.'
    5. present: It gives "August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.".
    6. present: It gives August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.
    7. present: States 'August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.'.
    8. present: Gives 'August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.'.
    9. present: It gives 'August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.'
    10. present: It gives 'August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.'
    11. present: It gives August 22, 2023 at 04:42 hrs.
    12. present: It gives August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.
    13. present: It gives August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.
    14. present: It gives August 22, 2023 at 04:42 hrs.
    15. present: 'August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.'
    16. present: It gives 'August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.' and a follow-up at 10:00AM.
    17. present: It dates the response to August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs., plus a 10:00AM follow-up.
    18. present: It states 'August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.' and a follow-up at 10:00AM.
    19. present: It gives 'August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.' and a 10:00AM follow-up.
    20. present: It gives 'August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.' and a later '10:00AM' update time.
    21. present: It gives 'August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.' and a 10:00AM follow-up.
    22. present: It dates the response 'August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.' and notes a 10:00AM update.
    23. present: It gives 'August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.' and a 10:00AM follow-up.
    24. present: It gives 'August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.' and a 10:00AM follow-up.
    25. present: It gives 'August 22, 2023, at 04:42 hrs.' and a 10:00AM follow-up time.
  • Impactabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    Absent, unanimously: although an intruder was in a room, the notice states no injury or severity, only the stolen laptops and wallet.

    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: No consequence or severity stated.
    2. absent: Stolen laptops are listed but no severity or threat of harm is stated.
    3. absent: No stated consequence or severity.
    4. absent: No explicit consequence or severity is conveyed.
    5. absent: No injury or explicit severity is stated.
    6. absent: No consequence or severity is conveyed.
    7. absent: No harm or severity is conveyed.
    8. absent: No injury or severity statement.
    9. absent: No injury or severity statement appears.
    10. absent: No stated consequence or severity.
    11. absent: No harm or severity is stated.
    12. absent: No injury, consequence, or severity is stated.
    13. absent: No injury or severity statement appears.
    14. absent: No consequence or severity is conveyed.
    15. absent: No stated consequence or severity.
    16. absent: It lists stolen laptops and a wallet but states no injury, danger, or severity.
    17. absent: It lists stolen laptops and a wallet but states no potential danger or severity to residents.
    18. absent: Although an intruder was in a room, no injury or severity is stated, only stolen laptops and a wallet.
    19. absent: It lists stolen laptops and a wallet but states no injury or severity of the threat.
    20. absent: Although an intruder entered an occupied room, the alert states no harm or severity to residents.
    21. absent: It reports stolen laptops and a wallet but conveys no harm to people or severity.
    22. absent: Although an intruder was in a room, the notice does not state any harm or danger this posed.
    23. absent: It describes the intruder and theft but states no potential harm or severity to residents.
    24. absent: Stolen laptops and a wallet are listed, but no danger or injury consequence is stated.
    25. absent: No one is described as harmed, and the alert never states what the intruder could do to residents.

Coded by Claude Opus 5.5

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

About this analysis
Context

Background

On or about 2023-08-22, MIT Police published a Clery timely warning on the Crime Alerts & Timely Warnings archive at https://police.mit.edu/crime-alert/timely-warning-burglary-20.
Analysis

Key Findings

Official MIT Police timely warning with complete text
Captured for Ivy Plus MIT five-year deep pass
Outcome
MIT Police investigation status as stated in the timely warning.
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
    Timely Warning Burglary
    police.mit.edu
    archived copy
  2. Official
    MIT Police timely warnings index
    police.mit.edu
    archived copy
  3. Statement
    MIT
    mit.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Burglary at Student House." Incident of August 22, 2023. Added July 2026; last updated September 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/mit-burglary-student-house-an-mit-independent-living-2023-08-22/

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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-warningmitcleryUnder Investigation
Added July 2026Updated September 2026Via ingestion