{
  "id": "2026-03-20-columbia-university-116th-broadway-harassments",
  "slug": "columbia-university-116th-broadway-harassments-2026-03-20",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Columbia University",
    "shortName": "Columbia",
    "state": "NY",
    "type": "private-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "Columbia Public Safety Clery Alert",
    "enrollment": 33000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2026-03-20",
    "endDate": "2026-03-23",
    "type": "harassment",
    "cleryCategory": "timely-warning",
    "resolution": "under-investigation",
    "headline": "Timely warning for hand-grab harassments at 116th and Broadway",
    "headlinePublic": "Timely warning for hand-grab harassments at 116th and Broadway",
    "summary": "Columbia Public Safety [issued Clery Crime Alert W07](https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/sites/publicsafety.columbia.edu/files/content/W07_Clery_Harassments_116thStreetandBroadwayandWest116thStreetandBroadway_2026_03_20_2026_03_23.pdf) for a string of harassments at West 116th Street and Broadway on March 20 and March 23, 2026, including a hand grab and an attempted grab by the same unknown individual.",
    "outcome": "Public Safety seeking tips at 212-854-2797, case 26-001001."
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestampApprox": "March 2026 (Clery Crime Alert W07 posting after the March 23 incident)",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "Clery Crime Alert\n  Harassments\nColumbia University Public Safety was recently informed of a string of Harassments perpetrated by the same unknown individual. The first incident occurred on\nFriday, March 20, 2026, at approximately 1:02 AM. Two students reported being followed by the unknown individual while walking near West 116th Street and\nBroadway. The individual grabbed one of the student's hands before fleeing the area.\nThe second incident occurred on Monday, March 23, 2026, between 2:23 PM and 2:45 PM. The same individual was observed trespassing into campus at West\n116th Street and Broadway. A student reported that the individual attempted to grab their hand in passing. Then, the same individual approached another\nstudent in an aggressive manner before leaving the area.\n The individual is shown in the photo below.\nIf you have any additional information about these incidents, please contact Investigator Darren Salinardi at 212-854-2797 and reference Case #26-001001.\nHarm Reduction Strategies:\nNo one is ever responsible for a crime committed against them. The responsibility lies entirely with the perpetrator. If something happens, we\nencourage you to report it. Reporting helps protect others and ensures you can access support and services. Report the incident to the Department\nof Public Safety at\nMorningside: 212-854-2797;\nManhattanville: 212-853-3333;\nMedical Center: 212-305-7979.\nStay Alert: Be aware of your surroundings, especially when walking alone.\nWalk in groups whenever you can. There is always safety in numbers.\nTrust your instincts. If you feel that you may be in danger, seek out others, a store, or an open CU building that has Public Safety Officers posted.\nRemember to look for the Red Lion, the logo for the CU Public Safety Safe Haven program, which has screened more than 130 businesses near the\nMorningside, Manhattanville, and Medical Center Campuses. For more information about the Safe Haven program, please click here.\nDisclaimer: Clery Crime Alerts (Timely Warning Notifications) are distributed pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act. Columbia University is required to\nalert the campus community when certain crimes occur in our Clery Act defined campuses that represent a serious or continuous threat to the community. For\nadditional information, please visit our Clery Act website or email ps-compliance@columbia.edu.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "confidence": "high",
      "sourceUrl": "https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/sites/publicsafety.columbia.edu/files/content/W07_Clery_Harassments_116thStreetandBroadwayandWest116thStreetandBroadway_2026_03_20_2026_03_23.pdf",
      "sourceDescription": "Columbia Public Safety Clery Crime Alert PDF (W07 Mar 20-23 2026)",
      "annotations": [
        "PDF text layer ligatures normalized to ASCII, matching W05/W06 capture practice. sha256 5ba89b4d76ffc529a6c8513ed82181e4f9d9345db773cf8726b2a5c6c40eb573.",
        "Distinct incident from 2026-03-21-columbia-university-package-thefts-111-112: different date, crime, and 116th/Broadway vs 535 W 111 / 539 W 112."
      ],
      "characterCount": 2383
    }
  ],
  "context": "Columbia Public Safety posts Clery Crime Alerts as PDFs. Official product: the [W07 harassments warning](https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/sites/publicsafety.columbia.edu/files/content/W07_Clery_Harassments_116thStreetandBroadwayandWest116thStreetandBroadway_2026_03_20_2026_03_23.pdf) for March 20 and March 23, 2026 at West 116th Street and Broadway. The earlier [W06 package-burglary warning](https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/sites/publicsafety.columbia.edu/files/content/W06_Clery_Burglary_Package_Theft_535West111thStreetand539West112thStreet_2026_03_21.pdf) is a distinct series.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "Official PDF lists two timed incidents and the same unknown individual grabbing or attempting to grab students' hands."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Columbia Public Safety Clery Crime Alert PDF (W07 Mar 20-23 2026)",
      "url": "https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/sites/publicsafety.columbia.edu/files/content/W07_Clery_Harassments_116thStreetandBroadwayandWest116thStreetandBroadway_2026_03_20_2026_03_23.pdf",
      "type": "official-archive",
      "accessDate": "2026-09-20",
      "archiveUrl": null,
      "archiveNotes": "SPN not attempted after 500 flap"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "private-r1",
    "new-york",
    "columbia",
    "ivy",
    "harassment",
    "clery"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-09-20",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-09-20",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}