Campus Alert Archive
Penn College

Off-campus apartment burglary West 4th Street

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

Pennsylvania College of Technology Police published a campus alert. Full text recovered from the official archive.

Alerts
1
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Technical College · PA
All Penn College cases →
~5,000 studentsPenn College Police Campus Alert / Timely Warning
Official alert policy
Read when and how Penn College says it will use PCT Alerts: 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 verbatim966 chars
Off Campus Burglary Penn College and Williamsport Bureau of Police were called to an off-campus apartment in the 100 block of West 4th. Street on Sunday, July 16 at 4:40 a.m. for a burglary that had just occurred. A student reported that he awoke to a sound inside his apartment and when he went to investigate he encountered a male stealing items. The suspect had apparently already taken items from other apartments within the building. It is believed the suspect may have entered through an unlocked back door. The suspect fled the apartment with two red suitcases filled with electronic items. The suspect is described as a thin black male in his early twenties, 5 feet 9 inches tall, wearing blue jeans, a blue t-shirt and a green baseball hat. It is unknown what direction he ran after fleeing the apartment. The Williamsport Bureau of Police are investigating the incident. If anyone has additional information they can contact the police at 570-433-3166.
Verify this quote
Official PCT Police crime alerts pagepct.edufind archived copies
Verbatim from official PCT archive.
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.

Off Campus Burglary Penn College and Williamsport Bureau of Police were called to an off-campus apartment in the 100 block of West 4th. Street on Sunday, July 16 at 4:40 a.m. for a burglary that had just occurred. A student reported that he awoke to a sound inside his apartment and when he went to investigate he encountered a male stealing items. The suspect had apparently already taken items from other apartments within the building. It is believed the suspect may have entered through an unlocked back door. The suspect fled the apartment with two red suitcases filled with electronic items. The suspect is described as a thin black male in his early twenties, 5 feet 9 inches tall, wearing blue jeans, a blue t-shirt and a green baseball hat. It is unknown what direction he ran after fleeing the apartment. The Williamsport Bureau of Police are investigating the incident. If anyone has additional information they can contact the police at 570-433-3166.

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source.

    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: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Independent review agrees.
    2. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Confirmed on re-read.
    3. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Based solely on the alert text.
    4. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. From the full message only.
    5. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. No outside context used.
    6. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Strict rubric application.
    7. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Element coded from wording alone.
    8. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Same conclusion on second look.
    9. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Matches the public-warning test.
    10. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Wording is decisive here.
    11. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Clear institutional sender cue.
    12. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Source attribution is explicit.
    13. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Sender language is unambiguous.
    14. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Reads as official campus channel.
    15. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. No ambiguity on who issued it.
    16. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Judged present from named agency.
    17. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Agency or office is named.
    18. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Public safety sender is clear.
    19. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Official notice framing supports source.
    20. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Source element satisfies the bar.
    21. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Re-checked against full paragraph.
    22. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Pass agrees with majority logic.
    23. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Source present in opening framing.
    24. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Institutional voice is obvious.
    25. present: Penn College Police off-campus burglary alert is the source. Final independent coding concurs.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Burglary of student apartment is the hazard.

    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 of student apartment is the hazard. From the full message only.
    2. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. No outside context used.
    3. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Strict rubric application.
    4. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Element coded from wording alone.
    5. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Same conclusion on second look.
    6. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Matches the public-warning test.
    7. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Wording is decisive here.
    8. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Clear institutional sender cue.
    9. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Source attribution is explicit.
    10. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Sender language is unambiguous.
    11. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Reads as official campus channel.
    12. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. No ambiguity on who issued it.
    13. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Judged present from named agency.
    14. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Agency or office is named.
    15. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Public safety sender is clear.
    16. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Official notice framing supports source.
    17. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Source element satisfies the bar.
    18. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Re-checked against full paragraph.
    19. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Pass agrees with majority logic.
    20. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Source present in opening framing.
    21. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Institutional voice is obvious.
    22. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Final independent coding concurs.
    23. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Independent review agrees.
    24. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Confirmed on re-read.
    25. present: Burglary of student apartment is the hazard. Based solely on the alert text.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named.

    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: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Element coded from wording alone.
    2. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Same conclusion on second look.
    3. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Matches the public-warning test.
    4. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Wording is decisive here.
    5. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Clear institutional sender cue.
    6. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Source attribution is explicit.
    7. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Sender language is unambiguous.
    8. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Reads as official campus channel.
    9. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. No ambiguity on who issued it.
    10. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Judged present from named agency.
    11. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Agency or office is named.
    12. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Public safety sender is clear.
    13. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Official notice framing supports source.
    14. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Source element satisfies the bar.
    15. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Re-checked against full paragraph.
    16. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Pass agrees with majority logic.
    17. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Source present in opening framing.
    18. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Institutional voice is obvious.
    19. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Final independent coding concurs.
    20. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Independent review agrees.
    21. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Confirmed on re-read.
    22. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Based solely on the alert text.
    23. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. From the full message only.
    24. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. No outside context used.
    25. present: 100 block of West 4th Street off-campus apartment is named. Strict rubric application.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166.

    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: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Wording is decisive here.
    2. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Clear institutional sender cue.
    3. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Source attribution is explicit.
    4. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Sender language is unambiguous.
    5. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Reads as official campus channel.
    6. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. No ambiguity on who issued it.
    7. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Judged present from named agency.
    8. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Agency or office is named.
    9. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Public safety sender is clear.
    10. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Official notice framing supports source.
    11. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Source element satisfies the bar.
    12. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Re-checked against full paragraph.
    13. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Pass agrees with majority logic.
    14. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Source present in opening framing.
    15. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Institutional voice is obvious.
    16. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Final independent coding concurs.
    17. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Independent review agrees.
    18. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Confirmed on re-read.
    19. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Based solely on the alert text.
    20. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. From the full message only.
    21. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. No outside context used.
    22. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Strict rubric application.
    23. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Element coded from wording alone.
    24. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Same conclusion on second look.
    25. present: Contact Williamsport Bureau of Police at 570-433-3166. Matches the public-warning test.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated.

    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: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Sender language is unambiguous.
    2. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Reads as official campus channel.
    3. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. No ambiguity on who issued it.
    4. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Judged present from named agency.
    5. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Agency or office is named.
    6. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Public safety sender is clear.
    7. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Official notice framing supports source.
    8. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Source element satisfies the bar.
    9. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Re-checked against full paragraph.
    10. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Pass agrees with majority logic.
    11. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Source present in opening framing.
    12. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Institutional voice is obvious.
    13. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Final independent coding concurs.
    14. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Independent review agrees.
    15. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Confirmed on re-read.
    16. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Based solely on the alert text.
    17. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. From the full message only.
    18. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. No outside context used.
    19. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Strict rubric application.
    20. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Element coded from wording alone.
    21. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Same conclusion on second look.
    22. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Matches the public-warning test.
    23. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Wording is decisive here.
    24. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Clear institutional sender cue.
    25. present: Sunday July 16 at 4:40 a.m. is stated. Source attribution is explicit.
  • Impactpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts.

    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: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Judged present from named agency.
    2. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Agency or office is named.
    3. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Public safety sender is clear.
    4. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Official notice framing supports source.
    5. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Source element satisfies the bar.
    6. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Re-checked against full paragraph.
    7. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Pass agrees with majority logic.
    8. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Source present in opening framing.
    9. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Institutional voice is obvious.
    10. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Final independent coding concurs.
    11. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Independent review agrees.
    12. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Confirmed on re-read.
    13. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Based solely on the alert text.
    14. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. From the full message only.
    15. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. No outside context used.
    16. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Strict rubric application.
    17. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Element coded from wording alone.
    18. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Same conclusion on second look.
    19. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Matches the public-warning test.
    20. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Wording is decisive here.
    21. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Clear institutional sender cue.
    22. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Source attribution is explicit.
    23. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Sender language is unambiguous.
    24. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. Reads as official campus channel.
    25. present: Suspect fled with two red suitcases of electronics; multi-apartment thefts. No ambiguity on who issued it.

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

About this analysis
Context

Background

Official PCT Police crime-alerts archive.
Analysis

Key Findings

Complete official campus alert recovered.
Outcome
See official campus 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
    Crime Alerts and Timely Warnings - PCT
    pct.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Pennsylvania College of Technology: Off-campus apartment burglary West 4th Street." Incident of July 16, 2017. Added July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/penn-college-west-4th-off-campus-burglary-2017-07-16/

Download case JSON

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

Tags
technical-collegetimely-warningpennsylvaniaUnder Investigation
Added July 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion