INITIAL ALERTEmail
TIMELY WARNING - BURGLARY: On May 15, 2024, at 12:20 p.m., the MIT Police responded to Alpha Delta Phi, an MIT fraternity located at 351 Massachusetts Ave., in Cambridge on a report of a burglary. The reporting party stated that at 03:51 a.m., a male suspect forcibly broke through the front door and entered the residence. The suspect then stole a backpack containing a play station console, game cartridges, attachments and a guitar in a soft case. According to video surveillance provided by the fraternity, the suspect appears to be a male, unknown race, medium build, wearing a white cowboy hat, light blue short-sleeve t-shirt and dark blue pants.
CRIME PREVENTION 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, and close and lock first floor windows at night or when not at home.
- Lock your residential door if you are leaving (even if only for a minute or two).
- Report suspicious people or activity. Report all tailgaters.
The report was filed at 12:20 PM EDT on May 15, the same day, roughly eight hours after the burglary occurred at 3:51 AM EDT
The suspect's distinctive 'white cowboy hat' description is highly unusual and suggests either a deliberate disguise or a bold, identifiable choice that may have aided witness identification
The suspect gained entry by forcing the front door, a different method than the December 2023 burglary at the same address where no forced entry was reported