{
  "id": "2026-01-21-ohio-state-university-attempted-laptop-robbery-in-the-ohio-union",
  "slug": "ohio-state-university-attempted-laptop-robbery-in-the-ohio-union-2026-01-21",
  "institution": {
    "name": "The Ohio State University",
    "shortName": "Ohio State",
    "state": "OH",
    "type": "public-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "OSU Public Safety Notice / Buckeye Alert",
    "enrollment": 60000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2026-01-21",
    "type": "robbery",
    "cleryCategory": "timely-warning",
    "resolution": "under-investigation",
    "headline": "Attempted laptop robbery in the Ohio Union",
    "headlinePublic": "Attempted laptop robbery in the Ohio Union",
    "summary": "Ohio State DPS [published a Public Safety Notice](https://dps.osu.edu/psn/public-safety-notice-january-22-2026). Full text recovered from the official dps.osu.edu PSN archive.",
    "outcome": "Investigation ongoing per the Public Safety Notice; community asked to report information to OSUPD or CPD."
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestampApprox": "Public Safety Notice dated 2026-01-21",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "Dear Ohio State Community Member:\n\nYou are receiving this notice because a crime has occurred that is considered to be of a concern and/or a continuing threat to the campus community.\n\nThe purpose of this message is to heighten your safety awareness by providing community members with information necessary to take appropriate precautions, enable you to take actions to help increase your safety, and to aid in the prevention of similar crimes.\n\nOn 1/21/2026, at approximately 5:40 p.m., an unknown male attempted to steal a student’s laptop in the Ohio Union. In the attempted robbery, the student tried to keep hold of the laptop, but the suspect pulled it from her hands causing her to fall. No injuries were reported, and the suspect set the laptop down before fleeing the Union, east toward High Street.\n\nPolice were notified several hours later. Photos of the suspect are below. The Ohio State University Police Division (OSUPD) continues to investigate and anyone with information related to this crime is encouraged to call University Police at 614-292-2121.\n\nCrimes are never the fault of the victim. Do not leave valuables unattended and remember to lock your residence hall doors. For those living off-campus, always remember to lock your doors and windows. Do not let unknown persons into residence halls and report suspicious behavior or missing property to police. When possible, please walk with friends or coworkers and always be aware of your surroundings, especially at night. If you see something, say something: report suspicious behavior by calling police. Additional safety resources are available at: dps.osu.edu/resources. OSUPD carefully considers information contained in safety notices. All decisions are handled on a case-by-case basis with the safety of our campus community in mind. Law enforcement officers and dispatchers are trained to interview witnesses in an effort to obtain as much information as possible, such as build, hair style, hair color, facial hair, skin tone, eye color, tattoos or identifying marks, teeth, clothing, shoes, etc. OSUPD may limit the use of race, or other descriptors, unless accompanied by a detailed description of the suspect. In an effort to share information in a timely manner, details may be limited and are based on information known or reported at the time of issuance.\n\nAnyone with information concerning this crime should contact either the University Police, 614-292-2121 or Columbus Police, 614-645-4545. You may also report information anonymously to the Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS or the University Crime Stoppers Tips line at 614-247-TIPS.\n\nFor information about safety on Ohio State's campus visit the following links:\n\nFor information about crime off campus, review the Columbus Police website.\n\nThis Public Safety Notice is issued in compliance with the \"Timely Warning\" provisions of the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998. 34 CFR 668.46(e)",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://dps.osu.edu/psn/public-safety-notice-january-22-2026",
      "sourceDescription": "Ohio State DPS Public Safety Notice - 2026-01-21",
      "annotations": [
        "Verbatim from official dps.osu.edu Public Safety Notice page (Clery timely warning)."
      ],
      "characterCount": 3005,
      "confidence": "high"
    }
  ],
  "context": "Official Ohio State University Department of Public Safety Clery timely-warning notice at [dps.osu.edu](https://dps.osu.edu/psn/public-safety-notice-january-22-2026).",
  "keyFindings": [
    "Complete official Public Safety Notice / Clery timely-warning text recovered from public DPS site."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Ohio State DPS Public Safety Notice - 2026-01-21",
      "url": "https://dps.osu.edu/psn/public-safety-notice-january-22-2026",
      "type": "official-archive",
      "accessDate": "2026-07-26"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "2026",
    "clery-timely-warning",
    "ohio-state",
    "osu",
    "public-safety-notice",
    "robbery"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-07-26",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-26",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}