Campus Alert Archive
MIT

Burglary prompts campus safety notice warning burglary — Sunday

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

MIT Police issued a crime alert / timely warning on or about 2020-02-02. 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
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 verbatim1706 chars
On February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM, a report was made to the MIT Police concerning a burglary in Building 34. The theft occurred sometime between 2:30 and 3:00 AM on Sunday February 2, 2020. The reporting party stated that an Apple MacBook computer was missing. The room had been locked at the time of the theft and there were no signs of forced entry. There is no suspect description at this time. 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: - 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. - Always lock your doors and windows both on campus and at your residence. Assure that locks are in good working condition. - Never leave valuables at your desk or out in the open when you are not in the area. - Lock your office or residential door if you are leaving (even if only for a minute or two) - 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). Issued by Issued by Sergeant David J O'Connor MIT Police Department 301 Vassar Street (W89) 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 February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM, a report was made to the MIT Police concerning a burglary in Building 34. The theft occurred sometime between 2:30 and 3:00 AM on Sunday February 2, 2020. The reporting party stated that an Apple MacBook computer was missing. The room had been locked at the time of the theft and there were no signs of forced entry. There is no suspect description at this time. 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: - 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. - Always lock your doors and windows both on campus and at your residence. Assure that locks are in good working condition. - Never leave valuables at your desk or out in the open when you are not in the area. - Lock your office or residential door if you are leaving (even if only for a minute or two) - 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). Issued by Issued by Sergeant David J O'Connor MIT Police Department 301 Vassar Street (W89) 617-253-1212

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. "a report was made to the MIT Police" identifies the recipient agency, and the duplicated "Issued by" block names Sergeant David J O'Connor 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: The notice comes from the MIT Police, with Sergeant O'Connor's department block at the end.
    2. present: The report went "to the MIT Police" and the closing names an MIT Police Department sergeant.
    3. present: The report was made to the MIT Police, and their department signs the notice.
    4. present: The report went to the MIT Police and the sign-off is Sergeant O'Connor of the MIT Police Department.
    5. present: The report is made to the MIT Police, and "Sergeant David J O'Connor, MIT Police Department" signs it.
    6. present: The report went "to the MIT Police" and the signature block names the MIT Police Department.
    7. present: The report was made "to the MIT Police" and the sign off names Sergeant David J O'Connor.
    8. present: The closing lines name "Sergeant David J O'Connor, MIT Police Department" as the issuer.
    9. present: A report was made "to the MIT Police" and a sergeant of the department signs off.
    10. present: The report was made to the MIT Police and the notice bears a sergeant's MIT Police signature.
    11. present: The report went to the MIT Police and the notice is signed by Sergeant O'Connor.
    12. present: The report went to "the MIT Police" and the sign off names Sergeant O'Connor of the department.
    13. present: The report was made "to the MIT Police" and the signature names Sergeant O'Connor, MIT Police Department.
    14. present: The report was made to the MIT Police, who sign the notice through a named sergeant.
    15. present: The report is made to "the MIT Police" and signed by Sergeant O'Connor of that department.
    16. present: The report went "to the MIT Police" and the notice is signed by Sergeant O'Connor.
    17. present: The report went "to the MIT Police" and Sergeant O'Connor of the MIT Police Department signs it.
    18. present: The report is made "to the MIT Police" and signed by a sergeant of the MIT Police Department.
    19. present: The report is made "to the MIT Police" and the closing block names the sergeant and department.
    20. present: The report was made "to the MIT Police" and the notice is signed by an MIT Police sergeant.
    21. present: The report goes to the MIT Police and the message is signed by an MIT Police Department sergeant.
    22. present: The sending authority is the MIT Police Department, signed by Sergeant David J O'Connor.
    23. present: The report is made to the MIT Police and signed by a sergeant of the MIT Police Department.
    24. present: "a report was made to the MIT Police" and the sergeant's signature identify the issuing authority.
    25. present: The report was made "to the MIT Police", and a sergeant of the MIT Police Department signs the notice.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. The crime is specified as "a burglary in Building 34" in which "an Apple MacBook computer was missing" from a room locked at the time. Unanimous.

    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 a burglary in which "an Apple MacBook computer was missing" from a locked room.
    2. present: A burglary is reported in which "an Apple MacBook computer was missing" from a locked room.
    3. present: Names a burglary in which an Apple MacBook computer went missing from a locked room.
    4. present: The crime is burglary, with "an Apple MacBook computer was missing" from a locked room.
    5. present: A burglary is reported in which "an Apple MacBook computer was missing" from a locked room.
    6. present: It concerns "a burglary in Building 34" with an Apple MacBook computer missing.
    7. present: The hazard is a burglary in which "an Apple MacBook computer was missing" from a locked room.
    8. present: It concerns "a burglary in Building 34" with a MacBook computer missing, a specific crime.
    9. present: It reports a burglary in which "an Apple MacBook computer was missing" from a locked room.
    10. present: It concerns "a burglary in Building 34" with an Apple MacBook computer missing from a locked room.
    11. present: Reports "a burglary in Building 34" with an Apple MacBook computer missing.
    12. present: It reports "a burglary in Building 34" with an Apple MacBook missing from a locked room.
    13. present: It concerns "a burglary in Building 34" in which "an Apple MacBook computer was missing".
    14. present: The crime named is a burglary in which "an Apple MacBook computer was missing" from a locked room.
    15. present: Reports "a burglary in Building 34" with "an Apple MacBook computer was missing".
    16. present: It names a burglary in which an Apple MacBook computer went missing from a locked room.
    17. present: A burglary is named, with "an Apple MacBook computer was missing" from a locked room.
    18. present: It reports "a burglary in Building 34" with an Apple MacBook computer missing.
    19. present: It reports "a burglary" with an Apple MacBook computer missing from a locked room.
    20. present: It concerns "a burglary" in which "an Apple MacBook computer was missing" from a locked room.
    21. present: It concerns "a burglary in Building 34" in which "an Apple MacBook computer was missing".
    22. present: It reports "a burglary in Building 34" with an Apple MacBook computer missing.
    23. present: It names a burglary in which "an Apple MacBook computer was missing" from a locked room.
    24. present: It reports a burglary in which "an Apple MacBook computer was missing" from a locked room.
    25. present: It reports "a burglary in Building 34" in which "an Apple MacBook computer was missing".
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. The only place given is "Building 34", a bare MIT building number with no floor or room, but every read treated that as a real and sufficient campus location.

    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 place is stated simply as "Building 34" on the MIT campus.
    2. present: It locates the theft "in Building 34".
    3. present: Places the theft "in Building 34" on the MIT campus.
    4. present: The place is stated as "a burglary in Building 34".
    5. present: It places the theft "in Building 34", an identified campus building.
    6. present: Building 34 is named as the location of the theft, a specific campus building.
    7. present: It identifies the place as "a burglary in Building 34".
    8. present: The location named is "Building 34", an identifiable campus building.
    9. present: The location given is "Building 34", an identified campus building.
    10. present: The location named is Building 34, identified as the room where the theft occurred.
    11. present: Building 34 is named as the location of the theft.
    12. present: The location is stated simply as "Building 34" on the MIT campus.
    13. present: The place is stated simply as "Building 34", an identified campus building.
    14. present: It places the theft "in Building 34", a specific campus building.
    15. present: Names Building 34 as the place of the theft, a specific campus building.
    16. present: The location is "Building 34" on the MIT campus.
    17. present: It identifies "a burglary in Building 34" as the location.
    18. present: Building 34 is named as the site, an identifiable campus building, with a locked room referenced.
    19. present: The place is "Building 34", an identifiable campus building.
    20. present: The place is identified as "Building 34".
    21. present: Building 34 is named as the site of the theft.
    22. present: The location given is Building 34, a specific campus building.
    23. present: The place is identified as "Building 34", a specific campus building.
    24. present: The location given is "Building 34", an identifiable campus building.
    25. present: The place is identified as Building 34 on the MIT campus.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. Readers are told to lock doors and windows on campus and at home, "Never leave valuables at your desk or out in the open", and to report tailgaters. No dissent.

    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: It advises locking doors and windows, not leaving valuables out, and notifying MIT Police of crimes.
    2. present: It advises locking doors and windows, not leaving valuables in the open, and calling MIT Police.
    3. present: Suggestions instruct readers to lock doors, secure valuables, and report suspicious activity.
    4. present: It instructs readers to lock doors, keep valuables out of sight, and call MIT Police about crimes.
    5. present: Recipients are told to lock doors, keep valuables out of sight, and immediately notify MIT Police.
    6. present: Suggestions tell readers to lock doors, secure valuables, and notify MIT Police immediately.
    7. present: The suggestions tell readers to lock doors, secure valuables, and notify police of crimes.
    8. present: It instructs readers to lock doors, secure valuables, and notify MIT Police of crimes.
    9. present: It advises locking doors and windows, securing valuables, and reporting suspicious people.
    10. present: Tips direct readers to lock doors and windows, keep valuables out of sight, and report tailgaters.
    11. present: Directs readers to lock doors, secure valuables, and notify MIT Police of criminal activity.
    12. present: Tips instruct readers to lock doors and windows, never leave valuables out, and report suspicious activity.
    13. present: Suggestions instruct readers to lock doors, never leave valuables in the open, and report tailgaters.
    14. present: It instructs the community to lock doors and windows, secure valuables, and report suspicious people.
    15. present: Advises locking doors and windows, not leaving valuables out, and calling MIT Police.
    16. present: Instructions include locking doors, never leaving valuables at your desk, and reporting tailgaters.
    17. present: Suggestions direct readers to lock doors, secure valuables and immediately notify the MIT Police.
    18. present: It instructs readers to lock doors, avoid leaving valuables out, and call the MIT Police number.
    19. present: Readers are told to lock doors and windows, secure valuables, and report suspicious activity.
    20. present: Readers are told to lock doors, never leave valuables out, and immediately notify MIT Police.
    21. present: Guidance includes locking doors, securing valuables and immediately notifying MIT Police.
    22. present: The suggestions tell readers to lock doors, secure valuables, and call the MIT Police about crimes.
    23. present: Recipients are told to lock doors and windows, never leave valuables at a desk, and report suspicious activity.
    24. present: Readers are told to lock doors and windows, never leave valuables in the open, and notify MIT Police.
    25. present: It tells recipients to lock doors and windows, keep valuables out of sight, and call MIT Police.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. The report is timed "On February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" and the theft narrowed to "between 2:30 and 3:00 AM on Sunday February 2, 2020."

    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: The report is timed "February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" with the theft between 2:30 and 3:00 AM.
    2. present: The report time "February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" and a 2:30 to 3:00 AM window are given.
    3. present: Uses "February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" and a 2:30 to 3:00 AM theft window.
    4. present: It fixes the report at "February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" and the theft between 2:30 and 3:00 AM.
    5. present: The report time "February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" and a 2:30 to 3:00 AM theft window are given.
    6. present: Times are given as "February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" and a 2:30 to 3:00 AM theft window.
    7. present: It specifies "February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" and a 2:30 to 3:00 AM theft window.
    8. present: It is dated "On February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" with a 2:30 to 3:00 AM theft window.
    9. present: It gives "February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" and a 2:30 to 3:00 AM theft window.
    10. present: The report time "February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" and a 2:30 to 3:00 AM window are given.
    11. present: Gives "February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" and a 2:30 to 3:00 AM theft window.
    12. present: Times given include "February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" and a 2:30 to 3:00 AM theft window.
    13. present: It supplies "February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" and a theft window of 2:30 to 3:00 AM.
    14. present: The report time "February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" and a 2:30 to 3:00 AM window are given.
    15. present: Dated "February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" with a 2:30 to 3:00 AM theft window.
    16. present: It gives "February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" and a 2:30 to 3:00 AM theft window.
    17. present: Times are precise: report at "approximately 12:20 PM" and theft "between 2:30 and 3:00 AM" on February 2, 2020.
    18. present: It is dated "February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" with a 2:30 to 3:00 AM theft window.
    19. present: The report is timed "February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" with a 2:30 to 3:00 AM theft window.
    20. present: Times are given: report at "approximately 12:20 PM" and theft "between 2:30 and 3:00 AM".
    21. present: Times are given: reported "February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM", theft between 2:30 and 3:00 AM.
    22. present: "On February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" plus the 2:30 to 3:00 AM theft window dates it.
    23. present: Times given include the report at "approximately 12:20 PM" and the theft "between 2:30 and 3:00 AM".
    24. present: It specifies "On February 2, 2020 at approximately 12:20 PM" and a 2:30 to 3:00 AM theft window.
    25. present: Times are precise: reported "at approximately 12:20 PM" with theft "between 2:30 and 3:00 AM on Sunday February 2, 2020".
  • Impactabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    Absent, 0 of 25. A missing MacBook from a locked room is the whole of the harm described, and the notice offers no word on what risk this poses to anyone. Unanimous.

    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 harm, danger, or severity is conveyed beyond the bare fact of a missing laptop.
    2. absent: No consequence, danger, or severity is stated anywhere in the notice.
    3. absent: A single laptop loss is reported with no expressed threat level or consequence.
    4. absent: Nothing in the text describes harm, danger, or how serious the loss is beyond a missing laptop.
    5. absent: The message reports a missing laptop with no accompanying claim about danger or seriousness.
    6. absent: Only a missing laptop is reported; no severity or threat to people is conveyed.
    7. absent: No severity or potential harm is stated; only a missing laptop is reported.
    8. absent: A missing laptop is reported, with no statement of potential harm or seriousness.
    9. absent: Only a missing laptop is reported, with no statement of risk or consequence.
    10. absent: A missing laptop is reported with no mention of danger, severity or potential harm.
    11. absent: Only a missing laptop is described, with no risk or severity conveyed.
    12. absent: One stolen laptop is reported with no expression of danger or severity to the community.
    13. absent: A missing laptop is the only consequence given; no severity or danger is communicated.
    14. absent: No severity, danger, or consequence is expressed anywhere in the message.
    15. absent: Nothing in the text describes potential harm or how serious the situation is.
    16. absent: Only a missing laptop is reported, with no statement about danger or seriousness.
    17. absent: No consequence beyond a missing laptop is described, and no danger is asserted.
    18. absent: Only a missing laptop is noted; no severity or potential consequence is expressed.
    19. absent: Nothing states any danger or severity; the described harm is one missing laptop.
    20. absent: A single stolen laptop is described with no consequence or severity conveyed.
    21. absent: No severity or potential harm is expressed anywhere in the description.
    22. absent: No severity or consequence statement appears; only a missing laptop is described.
    23. absent: Only a missing laptop is described, with no statement of danger or how serious the threat is.
    24. absent: A single missing laptop is reported with no statement of risk, harm, or seriousness.
    25. absent: A missing laptop is described with no accompanying claim of harm, danger, or seriousness.

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 Timely Warning Burglary.
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
    Timely Warning Burglary | MIT Police
    police.mit.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Burglary prompts campus safety notice warning burglary — Sunday." Incident of February 2, 2020. Added July 2026; last updated August 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/mit-timely-warning-burglary-5-2020-02-02/

Download case JSON

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 August 2026Via ingestion