Campus Alert Archive
MIT

Timely warning for January 15 2024 burglary at Phi Sigma Kappa

AI-generated · every claim is source-linked
MAburglarytimely warninghigh confidence
Compare →
Under Investigation

MIT Police issued a timely warning for a burglary at Phi Sigma Kappa, published in the MIT timely-warnings archive.

Alerts
1
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Private R1 · MA
All MIT cases →
~12,000 studentsMIT Police Timely Warnings
Official alert policy
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 verbatim2938 chars
On January 15, 2024, at approximately 10:15AM, the MIT Police responded to 487 Commonwealth Ave.  (Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity). According to the reporting party, at approximately 5:33 AM, two individuals entered the residence through the front door and removed power tools, 2-bicycles and delivery packages. There were no signs of forced entry. Video surveillance of the entry to the house, which is owned and maintained by the residents, showed two individuals entering the front entrance of house at approximately 5:33 AM on January 15, 2024.  Due to the quality of the video footage, we do not have a detailed description. 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 activity or individuals behaving in a suspicious, erratic, dangerous manner.         •       Report all tailgaters. The MIT Police Department reminds the MIT community that our campus is located in an urban setting and shares many of the crime and safety issues that exist in any city. The MIT Police are actively 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 Community Policing Unit MIT Police Department 565-570 Memorial Drive Cambridge, Ma. 02139 617-253-1212 565-570 Memorial Drive Building W91 Cambridge, MA 02139 Directions 24/7 Emergency(617) 253-1212 Non-Emergency (617) 253-2996 Anonymous Tips (617) 258-8477 TDD/TTY please use TRS (711) Details Office (617) 253-9754
Verify this quote
MIT Police timely warningpolice.mit.edufind archived copies
Full official MITPD timely-warning body from police.mit.edu.
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 January 15, 2024, at approximately 10:15AM, the MIT Police responded to 487 Commonwealth Ave.  (Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity). According to the reporting party, at approximately 5:33 AM, two individuals entered the residence through the front door and removed power tools, 2-bicycles and delivery packages. There were no signs of forced entry. Video surveillance of the entry to the house, which is owned and maintained by the residents, showed two individuals entering the front entrance of house at approximately 5:33 AM on January 15, 2024.  Due to the quality of the video footage, we do not have a detailed description. 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 activity or individuals behaving in a suspicious, erratic, dangerous manner.         •       Report all tailgaters. The MIT Police Department reminds the MIT community that our campus is located in an urban setting and shares many of the crime and safety issues that exist in any city. The MIT Police are actively 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 Community Policing Unit MIT Police Department 565-570 Memorial Drive Cambridge, Ma. 02139 617-253-1212 565-570 Memorial Drive Building W91 Cambridge, MA 02139 Directions 24/7 Emergency(617) 253-1212 Non-Emergency (617) 253-2996 Anonymous Tips (617) 258-8477 TDD/TTY please use TRS (711) Details Office (617) 253-9754

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 agree (1): Names "the MIT Police" as the agency that "responded to 487 Commonwealth Ave."

    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: Names "the MIT Police" as the agency that "responded to 487 Commonwealth Ave."
    2. present: Since MIT Police are listed as the responding agency at the fraternity.
    3. present: Checklist pass: MIT Police is named as the responding and advising agency in the alert.
    4. present: MIT Police responded to the fraternity and are asking for community help.
    5. present: Source attribution is to the MIT Police as the responding and reporting department.
    6. present: MIT Police is cast as the agency that handled the Phi Sigma Kappa call and continues the investigation.
    7. present: src: MIT Police responded; video noted as resident-maintained.
    8. present: MIT Police is named as the agency that responded to the Phi Sigma Kappa burglary report.
    9. present: "MIT Police" responded and are investigating while listing community precautions.
    10. present: Second glance still credits MIT Police as the agency that responded and advised the community.
    11. present: Peer review finds MIT Police clearly attributed as the responding department and tip recipient.
    12. present: The MIT Police are identified as the agency that responded to the residence.
    13. present: The MIT Police is named as the responding and investigating agency that received the report and that presents the video findings.
    14. present: MIT Police responded and reviewed house video.
    15. present: With academic caution, MIT Police may be coded as the official responding source named in the text.
    16. present: MIT Police responded and are the ones issuing this notice.
    17. present: The text frames the MIT Police as the responding investigators and concludes source is present.
    18. present: Present because the MIT Police are named as the agency that responded to the residence.
    19. present: Source is MIT Police who responded to the residence and issued the prevention tips.
    20. present: MIT Police is identified as the responding agency, a source name that would be absent if uncredited.
    21. present: Names MIT Police as the agency that responded to the fraternity.
    22. present: The response is attributed to the MIT Police at Phi Sigma Kappa.
    23. present: The alert names the MIT Police as the agency that responded to the fraternity address.
    24. present: Recipients can attribute the report to MIT Police who responded and reviewed resident-maintained entry video.
    25. present: States that the MIT Police responded to the Phi Sigma Kappa residence.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 agree (1): States two people "entered the residence" and "removed power tools, 2-bicycles and delivery packages."

    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: States two people "entered the residence" and "removed power tools, 2-bicycles and delivery packages."
    2. present: Because two people entered and stole property, presenting a burglary-type hazard.
    3. present: Checklist pass: two people entered the front door and removed property with no forced entry as the burglary hazard.
    4. present: Two people walked in and took property, which is the burglary hazard reported.
    5. present: The hazard is unauthorized entry and removal of property, framed as a residential burglary.
    6. present: The hazard is a residential burglary by two people who entered through the front door.
    7. present: hazard: burglary by two people through front door.
    8. present: MIT Police reports a burglary in which two people entered through the front door and removed property.
    9. present: "two individuals entered the residence through the front door" and removed tools, bikes, and packages.
    10. present: Look again: the hazard is two people entering and taking power tools, bikes, and packages.
    11. present: Burglary by two persons entering through the front door is the defined hazard event.
    12. present: The alert describes entry and removal of power tools, two bicycles, and delivery packages.
    13. present: The hazard is unauthorized entry of a residence and theft of property, reported in the form of a burglary without forced entry.
    14. present: Burglary: two people took power tools, two bikes, and delivery packages.
    15. present: The hazard is residential burglary by two individuals who removed tools, bicycles, and packages.
    16. present: Two people walked in the front door and burglarized the place with no forced entry.
    17. present: The text describes two people entering and removing power tools, two bicycles, and delivery packages and concludes the hazard is a burglary theft.
    18. present: Present because two individuals entered and removed power tools, two bicycles, and delivery packages.
    19. present: Hazard is unauthorized entry through the front door by two individuals who removed property.
    20. present: Burglary through the front door is the specific hazard; without it the incident type would not appear.
    21. present: Identifies a burglary where two people entered and removed property.
    22. present: Entry by two individuals and removal of power tools, two bicycles, and delivery packages are reported.
    23. present: The alert reports that two individuals entered through the front door and removed property from the residence.
    24. present: Recipients face a burglary in which two individuals entered through the front door and removed property.
    25. present: Identifies two people entering and removing tools, bikes, and packages.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 agree (1): Locates it at "487 Commonwealth Ave. (Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity)."

    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: Locates it at "487 Commonwealth Ave. (Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity)."
    2. present: Since the scene is 487 Commonwealth Ave., Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
    3. present: Checklist pass: 487 Commonwealth Ave., Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, is the listed location.
    4. present: The scene is 487 Commonwealth Ave., the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
    5. present: The location is 487 Commonwealth Ave., the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity residence.
    6. present: The scene is 487 Commonwealth Ave., identified as Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
    7. present: loc: 487 Commonwealth Ave, Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
    8. present: MIT Police places the incident at 487 Commonwealth Ave., the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
    9. present: "487 Commonwealth Ave. (Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity)" is the scene.
    10. present: A second pass places the entry at 487 Commonwealth Ave., Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
    11. present: 487 Commonwealth Ave., Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, is an explicit, map-ready location reference.
    12. present: It locates the burglary at 487 Commonwealth Ave., Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
    13. present: The location is stated as 487 Commonwealth Ave., Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, with entry through the front door as captured on resident-maintained video.
    14. present: Phi Sigma Kappa at 487 Commonwealth Ave.
    15. present: Events are placed at 487 Commonwealth Ave., the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
    16. present: It is again 487 Commonwealth Ave, the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
    17. present: The text sets the crime at 487 Commonwealth Ave., Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, and concludes location is present.
    18. present: Present because the scene is 487 Commonwealth Ave., Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
    19. present: Location is 487 Commonwealth Ave. identified as Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
    20. present: 487 Commonwealth Ave. (Phi Sigma Kappa) locates the entry that would lack any place name otherwise.
    21. present: Places the crime at 487 Commonwealth Ave., Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
    22. present: The scene is given as 487 Commonwealth Ave., Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
    23. present: The alert locates the incident at 487 Commonwealth Ave., the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
    24. present: Recipients locate the incident at 487 Commonwealth Ave., the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
    25. present: Gives 487 Commonwealth Ave. (Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity) as the scene.
  • Guidancepresent20/25

    Final assessment

    Majority 20/25 codes 1: Gives protective tips to lock doors, notify MIT Police, and report suspicious activity.

    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: Gives protective tips to lock doors, notify MIT Police, and report suspicious activity.
    2. present: Because safety tips direct readers to lock up, avoid tailgaters, and call police when needed.
    3. absent: Checklist fail: the tip list is introduced but cuts off at a single letter with no complete recipient guidance.
    4. present: The alert tells readers to lock up, report odd activity, and notify MIT Police about crimes or tips.
    5. absent: A tips section begins but is cut off before any complete protective action is delivered to recipients.
    6. present: The message urges locking doors, reporting tailgaters and suspicious behavior, and calling MIT Police or the tip line.
    7. present: guidance: notify MITPD; lock doors/windows; report suspicious persons.
    8. absent: MIT Police begins theft prevention tips but the provided text cuts off before any complete recipient instruction appears.
    9. present: "precautions that can be taken" open tips such as notifying MIT Police and locking doors.
    10. present: On re-read, protective tips still tell people to lock up, avoid tailgaters, and report crime to MIT Police.
    11. present: Protective guidance covers locking doors, watching for tailgaters, and immediately notifying MIT Police of crimes.
    12. present: Protective guidance includes locking doors, reporting tailgaters, and contacting MIT Police.
    13. present: MIT Police encourages recipients to follow protective tips for personal safety and property security and for facilitating recovery of stolen property.
    14. present: Notify MIT Police at 617-253-1212 or 100; lock doors; report tailgaters.
    15. absent: Standard tips are only begun and truncated, so actionable recipient guidance cannot be fully assessed.
    16. present: They push the usual tips to call MIT Police right away and lock residential doors and windows.
    17. present: The text instructs recipients to notify MIT Police, lock residential doors, and report tailgaters and concludes guidance is present.
    18. present: Present because MIT Police encourage locking doors and windows, reporting suspicious people, and calling 617-253-1212.
    19. present: Guidance tells recipients to notify MIT Police immediately lock residential doors and windows and report suspicious activity or tailgaters.
    20. present: Lock doors, close windows, and report suspicious activity tell recipients what to do, guidance a bare report would omit.
    21. present: Urges recipients to notify MIT Police and to lock residential doors and windows.
    22. present: Precautions are encouraged so property can be protected, with tips introduced after the video note.
    23. present: The alert directs recipients to lock doors and windows, report suspicious activity, and notify MIT Police of crimes.
    24. absent: Recipients only see a cut off tips bullet starting with I and no complete protective instructions.
    25. present: Shows locking, reporting, and MIT Police notification tips aimed at recipients.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 agree (1): Timestamps response "January 15, 2024, at approximately 10:15AM" and entry "at approximately 5:33 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: Timestamps response "January 15, 2024, at approximately 10:15AM" and entry "at approximately 5:33 AM."
    2. present: Since the response is about 10:15 AM on January 15, 2024 with entry at 5:33 AM.
    3. present: Checklist pass: response about 10:15 AM on January 15, 2024 with entry about 5:33 AM the same day.
    4. present: Police responded on January 15, 2024 around 10:15 a.m., and video shows entry about 5:33 a.m.
    5. present: Response is about 10:15 AM on January 15, 2024, with entry shown at approximately 5:33 AM.
    6. present: Entry is timed at about 5:33 a.m. on January 15, 2024, with police response around 10:15 a.m.
    7. present: time: response ~10:15 AM Jan 15 2024; entry ~5:33 AM.
    8. present: MIT Police responded on January 15, 2024 at about 10:15 AM for an entry shown on video at about 5:33 AM.
    9. present: "January 15, 2024, at approximately 10:15AM" is the response after entry at "approximately 5:33 AM."
    10. present: Second look still times the theft to about 5:33 AM and the response to about 10:15 AM on January 15, 2024.
    11. present: Response is about 10:15 AM on January 15, 2024, with entry on video at approximately 5:33 AM.
    12. present: The notice gives January 15, 2024 at about 10:15 AM for the response and 5:33 AM for entry.
    13. present: The response is dated January 15, 2024, at approximately 10:15AM, with two individuals entering at approximately 5:33 AM that same date.
    14. present: Police about 10:15 AM Jan 15, 2024; entry about 5:33 AM.
    15. present: Temporal markers include a January 15, 2024 response near 10:15 AM and entry near 5:33 AM.
    16. present: Police responded around 10:15 AM on January 15, 2024, and video shows the two people going in about 5:33 AM.
    17. present: The text gives January 15, 2024 at about 10:15AM for the response and about 5:33 AM for the entry and concludes time is present.
    18. present: Present because police responded on January 15, 2024 at about 10:15 AM and entry is timed at about 5:33 AM.
    19. present: Time is January 15 2024 with response about 10:15 AM and entry about 5:33 AM.
    20. present: January 15, 2024 near 10:15 AM response and 5:33 AM entry mark when it happened; without those figures timing is blank.
    21. present: Timestamps response near 10:15 AM on January 15, 2024, after a 5:33 AM entry.
    22. present: Police response is timed at about 10:15AM on January 15, 2024, with entry about 5:33 AM.
    23. present: The alert times the response at about 10:15 AM on January 15, 2024, with entry around 5:33 AM.
    24. present: Recipients know police responded near 10:15 AM on January 15, 2024 after entry around 5:33 AM that morning.
    25. present: Notes January 15, 2024, about 10:15AM, with entry near 5:33 AM.
  • Impactpresent21/25

    Final assessment

    Majority 21/25 codes 1: Because power tools, two bicycles, and packages were removed by two offenders, detailing loss.

    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: Lists property taken with "no signs of forced entry" and no stated severity or harm beyond theft.
    2. present: Because power tools, two bicycles, and packages were removed by two offenders, detailing loss.
    3. present: Checklist pass: power tools, two bicycles, and delivery packages are listed as stolen impacts beyond the burglary label.
    4. present: Power tools, two bikes, and delivery packages were taken, with no forced entry and two people on video.
    5. present: Losses include power tools, two bicycles, and delivery packages, with two entrants and no forced entry noted.
    6. present: Power tools, two bicycles, and delivery packages were taken, with no forced entry and poor video limiting suspect detail.
    7. present: impact: power tools, two bikes, and delivery packages removed.
    8. present: MIT Police states power tools, two bicycles, and delivery packages were taken with no signs of forced entry.
    9. present: "power tools, 2-bicycles and delivery packages" were taken with "no signs of forced entry."
    10. present: Re-checking lists stolen power tools, two bicycles, and delivery packages as concrete loss beyond saying burglary.
    11. present: Impact is specified as power tools, two bicycles, and delivery packages taken by two individuals without forced entry.
    12. absent: No injuries or severity details are provided beyond naming the property removed.
    13. present: Beyond the burglary designation, the notice specifies removal of power tools, two bicycles, and delivery packages by two individuals, and notes that video quality precludes a detailed description.
    14. present: No forced entry; two on video at front door; footage too poor for a detailed description.
    15. present: Impact extends to stolen power tools, two bicycles, and delivery packages despite no signs of forced entry.
    16. present: They took power tools, two bicycles, and delivery packages.
    17. absent: The text lists stolen items without stating severity or consequences beyond the theft itself and concludes impact is absent.
    18. absent: Absent because stolen tools, bikes, and packages only detail the burglary without added severity or harm language.
    19. present: Impact is theft of power tools two bicycles and delivery packages from the residence.
    20. present: Power tools, two bicycles, and delivery packages taken by two people state impact beyond the burglary name alone.
    21. present: Details theft of power tools, two bicycles, and delivery packages with no forced entry.
    22. present: Multiple item types were taken by two people with no forced entry, while video quality left no detailed description.
    23. present: The alert lists stolen power tools, two bicycles, and delivery packages, with no signs of forced entry.
    24. present: Recipients learn power tools, two bicycles, and delivery packages were taken as the concrete losses.
    25. present: States power tools, two bicycles, and delivery packages taken with no forced entry.

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

About this analysis
Context

Background

MIT Police publishes Clery timely warnings on police.mit.edu. This notice for Phi Sigma Kappa is recovered from the official crime-alert page.
Analysis

Key Findings

Official MITPD timely-warning narrative
Outcome
MIT Police investigation; prevention tips included 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 January 15 2024 burglary at Phi Sigma Kappa." Incident of January 15, 2024. Added July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/mit-phi-sigma-kappa-burglary-2024-01-15/

Download case JSON

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

Tags
burglarytimely-warningmit2024Under Investigation
Added July 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion