{
  "id": "2026-02-23-columbia-university-package-thefts-112-claremont",
  "slug": "columbia-university-package-thefts-112-claremont-2026-02-23",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Columbia University",
    "shortName": "Columbia",
    "state": "NY",
    "type": "private-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "Columbia Public Safety Clery Alert",
    "enrollment": 33000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2026-02-23",
    "endDate": "2026-02-24",
    "type": "theft",
    "cleryCategory": "timely-warning",
    "resolution": "under-investigation",
    "headline": "Timely warning for multi-day package burglaries near campus residences",
    "headlinePublic": "Timely warning for multi-day package burglaries near campus residences",
    "summary": "Columbia Public Safety [issued a Clery Crime Alert](https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/sites/publicsafety.columbia.edu/files/content/W05_Clery_Burglary_Package_Theft_523West112thStreetand150ClaremontAve_2026_02_23_2026_02_24.pdf) for package burglaries February 23-24, 2026 at 523 West 112th Street and 150 Claremont Ave, with piggybacking and multi-apartment buzzing entry.",
    "outcome": "Same suspect believed responsible across incidents; Public Safety seeking tips."
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestamp": "2026-02-23T19:28:00-05:00",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "Clery Crime Alert\n Burglaries/Package Thefts\nColumbia University Public Safety was recently informed of multiple Burglaries. The first incident\noccurred on Monday, February 23rd, 2026, at approximately 7:28 p.m. at 523 West 112th Street.\nAdditional incidents occurred on Tuesday, February 24th, 2026, at approximately 4:32 p.m. at\n150 Claremont Ave. and 11:25 p.m. at 523 West 112th Street.\nAll incidents appeared to have been committed by the same individual. A video review shows\nthat the individual gained entry by piggybacking behind tenants and by buzzing multiple\napartments until access was granted. Once inside, the individual removed several packages.\nThe individual is shown in the photo below.\n\n\nIf you have any additional information about these incidents, please contact Public Safety at\n212-854-2797.\nHarm Reduction Strategies:\nMake sure the door locks behind you every time you enter or exit a building.\nDo not buzz people into a building unless you know who they are and what they are\ndoing.\nStay informed about delivery statuses and estimated arrival times and try to retrieve\nyour package(s) in a timely manner.\nSign up for free services such as FedEx Delivery Manager® and UPS My\nChoice® or use an Amazon Pick Up Location, such as a locker or local store. Many\nonline retailers allow you to send directly to a local shipping center or retail store\nat check out. Nearby shipping stores with secure delivery options include:\nFedEx Office Ship Center (116th and Broadway)\nUPS Store (115th and Broadway)\nUPS Store (42 Tiemann Place - Between Broadway and Claremont Ave)\nDisclaimer: Clery Crime Alerts (Timely Warning Notifications) are distributed pursuant to the\nJeanne Clery Campus Safety Act. Columbia University is required to alert the campus\ncommunity when certain crimes occur in our Clery Act defined campuses that represent a\nserious or continuous threat to the community. For additional information, please visit our Clery\nAct website or email ps-compliance@columbia.edu.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/sites/publicsafety.columbia.edu/files/content/W05_Clery_Burglary_Package_Theft_523West112thStreetand150ClaremontAve_2026_02_23_2026_02_24.pdf",
      "sourceDescription": "Columbia Public Safety Clery Crime Alert PDF (W05 Feb 23-24 2026)",
      "annotations": [
        "PDF text layer ligatures normalized to ASCII."
      ],
      "characterCount": 1996,
      "confidence": "high"
    }
  ],
  "context": "Columbia Public Safety multi-incident package burglary timely warning spanning February 23-24, 2026 near the Morningside campus.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "Official PDF lists three timed incidents and piggybacking/buzzing entry methods."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "type": "clery-asr",
      "title": "Columbia Clery W05 package thefts",
      "url": "https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/sites/publicsafety.columbia.edu/files/content/W05_Clery_Burglary_Package_Theft_523West112thStreetand150ClaremontAve_2026_02_23_2026_02_24.pdf",
      "accessDate": "2026-07-25"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "theft",
    "package-theft",
    "burglary",
    "clery",
    "columbia"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-07-25",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-25",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}