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Columbia

Timely warning for burglary at 181 Claremont Avenue

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NYburglarytimely warninghigh confidence
Under Investigation

Columbia Public Safety issued Clery Crime Alert 2025-W11.

Alerts
1
Response
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Killed
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Injured
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Institution
Columbia University
Private R1 · NY
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~33,000 studentsColumbia Public Safety Clery Alert
Official alert policy
Read when and how Columbia says it will use Emergency Notification System: 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 verbatim2152 chars
Clery Crime Alert Burglary On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m. a Burglary occurred at 181 Claremont Avenue, at the Morningside Campus. A video review shows an individual randomly pressing the intercom in an attempt to gain entry. The individual waits in the vestibule until an unknown tenant enters and then “piggybacks” behind them into the building. Once inside of the building, the individual removed one package. The individual was last seen walking south on Broadway from West 125th Street. The incident was reported to Columbia University Public Safety on Friday, April 11, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. If you have any additional information about this incident, please contact Public Safety at 212-854-2797. The same individual committed a similar crime on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 5:20 a.m. at 181 Claremont Avenue at the Morningside Campus. The individual is described as male presenting, with a medium complexion, wearing a black knit hat, white facemask, white T-Shirt, brown sweatpants, black sneakers, and a blue winter jacket. Safety Tips Do not buzz people into a building unless you know who they are and what they are doing. Please try to retrieve your package in a timely manner. Do not allow people to "piggyback" into a building with you. If someone is “piggybacking” into a building and you do not feel safe stopping them, please call Public Safety at 212 854-2797 as soon as you are able to. Please report any broken doors, locks, or entrances to your building super as soon as possible. Disclaimer: Clery Crime Alerts (Timely Warning Notifications) are distributed to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. Columbia University is required to alert the campus community when certain crimes occur in our Clery Act defined campuses that represent a serious or continuous threat to the community. To see this and other Clery Crime Alerts, please visit our Public Safety website. For more information about Columbia University’s Clery Act compliance efforts, please contact the Department’s Clery Act Compliance Director, Roberto A. Pineda Sanchez at rp3240@columbia.edu.
PDF text layer ligatures normalized to ASCII, matching W06 capture practice. sha256 e96d4c70a8dd564288d40b222417c9fca8d5bd49326100f8c5ef32d2f5a26cb0. Dual-fetch PDF bytes as packaged.
Columbia Clery 2025-W11 flyer W11_Clery_Burglary_181 Claremont_2025-03-25.pdf.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, SuperGrok Heavy 4.5 (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.

Clery Crime Alert Burglary On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m. a Burglary occurred at 181 Claremont Avenue, at the Morningside Campus. A video review shows an individual randomly pressing the intercom in an attempt to gain entry. The individual waits in the vestibule until an unknown tenant enters and then “piggybacks” behind them into the building. Once inside of the building, the individual removed one package. The individual was last seen walking south on Broadway from West 125th Street. The incident was reported to Columbia University Public Safety on Friday, April 11, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. If you have any additional information about this incident, please contact Public Safety at 212-854-2797. The same individual committed a similar crime on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 5:20 a.m. at 181 Claremont Avenue at the Morningside Campus. The individual is described as male presenting, with a medium complexion, wearing a black knit hat, white facemask, white T-Shirt, brown sweatpants, black sneakers, and a blue winter jacket. Safety Tips Do not buzz people into a building unless you know who they are and what they are doing. Please try to retrieve your package in a timely manner. Do not allow people to "piggyback" into a building with you. If someone is “piggybacking” into a building and you do not feel safe stopping them, please call Public Safety at 212 854-2797 as soon as you are able to. Please report any broken doors, locks, or entrances to your building super as soon as possible. Disclaimer: Clery Crime Alerts (Timely Warning Notifications) are distributed to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. Columbia University is required to alert the campus community when certain crimes occur in our Clery Act defined campuses that represent a serious or continuous threat to the community. To see this and other Clery Crime Alerts, please visit our Public Safety website. For more information about Columbia University’s Clery Act compliance efforts, please contact the Department’s Clery Act Compliance Director, Roberto A. Pineda Sanchez at rp3240@columbia.edu.

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Source present: the branded Clery Crime Alert header plus Columbia University Public Safety and Columbia University identify the issuing authority.

    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 text names Columbia University Public Safety and Columbia University as the issuing authorities.
    2. present: The title "Clery Crime Alert" is a branded signature, and Columbia University Public Safety is named as the authority.
    3. present: The header Clery Crime Alert plus Columbia University Public Safety and Columbia University naming itself identify the issuing authority.
    4. present: The message is a Clery Crime Alert that names Columbia University Public Safety and Columbia University as the issuing authority.
    5. present: The header "Clery Crime Alert" plus "Columbia University Public Safety" and "Columbia University" identify the issuing authority.
    6. present: The message is labeled Clery Crime Alert and names Columbia University Public Safety as the reporting authority.
    7. present: The header Clery Crime Alert and Columbia University Public Safety identify the issuing authority.
    8. present: The message is labeled Clery Crime Alert and names Columbia University Public Safety as the office that received the report.
    9. present: The alert identifies Columbia University Public Safety and Columbia University as the issuing authority.
    10. present: The message is labeled Clery Crime Alert and names Columbia University Public Safety as the reporting and contact authority.
    11. present: The Clery Crime Alert names Columbia University Public Safety as the authority that received the report and should be contacted.
    12. present: The branded header "Clery Crime Alert" and "Columbia University Public Safety" identify the issuing authority.
    13. present: The alert identifies Columbia University Public Safety as the reporting office and Columbia University as the issuing campus.
    14. present: The text names Columbia University Public Safety as the reporting and contact agency and Columbia University as the alerting institution.
    15. present: The message names Columbia University Public Safety as the contact and Columbia University as the alerting institution.
    16. present: Columbia University Public Safety is named as the reporting office and Columbia University as the issuing institution.
    17. present: The header Clery Crime Alert and Columbia University Public Safety name the issuing authority.
    18. present: Columbia University Public Safety and Columbia University are named as the alerting authorities in this Clery Crime Alert.
    19. present: The branded header Clery Crime Alert and Columbia University Public Safety name the issuing authority.
    20. present: The alert names Columbia University Public Safety as the reporting contact and Columbia University as the issuing institution.
    21. present: The header Clery Crime Alert and Columbia University Public Safety identify the issuing authority.
    22. present: The header Clery Crime Alert and Columbia University Public Safety name the issuing authority.
    23. present: The text names Columbia University Public Safety as the contact and Columbia University as the institution issuing Clery Crime Alerts.
    24. present: The heading "Clery Crime Alert" is a branded sender tag, and Columbia University Public Safety is named as the reporting authority.
    25. present: The header "Clery Crime Alert" and "Columbia University Public Safety" identify the issuing authority.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Hazard present because the text names burglary as the specific crime, including piggyback entry and package theft.

    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 names "Burglary" as the specific threat, including theft of a package after piggyback entry.
    2. present: It names "Burglary" as the specific crime, including piggyback entry and removal of a package.
    3. present: The message names Burglary as the specific crime, including package theft after piggyback entry.
    4. present: It names burglary as the specific threat, including a similar prior crime by the same individual.
    5. present: The text names "Burglary" as the specific crime, not a generic incident.
    6. present: It names Burglary as the specific threat, including piggyback entry and removal of a package.
    7. present: The text names Burglary as the specific crime threat.
    8. present: It specifies Burglary as the crime, including package theft after unauthorized entry.
    9. present: It names burglary as the specific crime, describing piggyback entry and removal of a package.
    10. present: It names a Burglary, a specific crime in which someone piggybacked in and removed a package.
    11. present: It names a specific threat, "Burglary", and describes package theft after piggybacking into the building.
    12. present: The text names "Burglary" as the specific crime, including theft of a package after piggyback entry.
    13. present: It names Burglary as the crime and describes an individual taking a package after piggyback entry.
    14. present: The heading and body name a Burglary, a specific crime threat.
    15. present: It names a specific threat: Burglary, with an individual who removed a package after entering the building.
    16. present: The alert names a specific crime, burglary, including package theft after someone piggybacked into the building.
    17. present: The message titles and describes a Burglary, a specific crime threat.
    18. present: The message names a burglary in which someone piggybacked inside and removed a package.
    19. present: The message names Burglary as the specific crime.
    20. present: The heading and body name a Burglary, a specific crime threat.
    21. present: The alert names Burglary as the specific crime, including piggyback entry and package theft.
    22. present: The alert names Burglary as the specific crime, not a generic incident.
    23. present: It labels the threat as Burglary, a specific crime rather than a generic incident.
    24. present: The message names "Burglary" as the specific crime and threat.
    25. present: The message names "Burglary" as the specific crime threat.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Location present: the burglary is at 181 Claremont Avenue on the Morningside Campus.

    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: It places the crime at 181 Claremont Avenue on the Morningside Campus.
    2. present: It places the burglary at "181 Claremont Avenue, at the Morningside Campus" and last seen on Broadway.
    3. present: It places the crime at 181 Claremont Avenue, at the Morningside Campus, and last seen walking south on Broadway from West 125th Street.
    4. present: It places the burglary at 181 Claremont Avenue at the Morningside Campus, with last seen on Broadway from West 125th Street.
    5. present: It places the event at "181 Claremont Avenue, at the Morningside Campus".
    6. present: It places the crime at 181 Claremont Avenue at the Morningside Campus, with last seen on Broadway.
    7. present: It locates the crime at 181 Claremont Avenue on the Morningside Campus.
    8. present: It locates the incident at 181 Claremont Avenue on the Morningside Campus and last movement south on Broadway from West 125th Street.
    9. present: It locates the incident at 181 Claremont Avenue at the Morningside Campus.
    10. present: It places the burglary at 181 Claremont Avenue on the Morningside Campus and last seen walking south on Broadway from West 125th Street.
    11. present: It places the crime at "181 Claremont Avenue, at the Morningside Campus", a street address and named campus.
    12. present: It places the crime at "181 Claremont Avenue, at the Morningside Campus" and later on Broadway from West 125th Street.
    13. present: The burglary is placed at 181 Claremont Avenue at the Morningside Campus.
    14. present: It places the crime at 181 Claremont Avenue on the Morningside Campus and last seen walking south on Broadway from West 125th Street.
    15. present: It places the crime at 181 Claremont Avenue on the Morningside Campus, last seen on Broadway from West 125th Street.
    16. present: It places the crime at 181 Claremont Avenue on the Morningside Campus and last seen on Broadway from West 125th Street.
    17. present: It places the crime at 181 Claremont Avenue, at the Morningside Campus.
    18. present: It sites the crime at 181 Claremont Avenue on the Morningside Campus, with last seen on Broadway at West 125th Street.
    19. present: It places the crime at 181 Claremont Avenue, at the Morningside Campus.
    20. present: It places the crime at 181 Claremont Avenue on the Morningside Campus.
    21. present: It places the incident at 181 Claremont Avenue on the Morningside Campus and along Broadway from West 125th Street.
    22. present: It places the crime at 181 Claremont Avenue on the Morningside Campus.
    23. present: It places the event at 181 Claremont Avenue on the Morningside Campus and notes Broadway from West 125th Street.
    24. present: It places the incident at "181 Claremont Avenue, at the Morningside Campus."
    25. present: It locates the incident at "181 Claremont Avenue, at the Morningside Campus."
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Guidance present: safety tips tell recipients not to buzz strangers in, not to allow piggybacking, and to report broken doors or call Public Safety.

    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: Safety tips instruct recipients not to buzz unknown people in, not to allow piggybacking, and to report broken doors.
    2. present: Safety tips instruct not to buzz strangers, not to allow piggybacking, to retrieve packages, and to call Public Safety.
    3. present: Safety tips instruct recipients not to buzz unknown people in, not to allow piggybacking, to retrieve packages promptly, and to report broken doors.
    4. present: Safety tips instruct readers not to buzz in strangers, not to allow piggybacking, and to call Public Safety if they feel unsafe.
    5. present: Safety tips instruct not to buzz strangers in, not to allow piggybacking, and to report broken doors.
    6. present: Safety tips tell readers not to buzz unknown people, not to allow piggybacking, retrieve packages, and report broken doors.
    7. present: Safety tips tell readers not to buzz strangers in, not to allow piggybacking, and to call Public Safety if unsafe.
    8. present: Safety tips instruct readers not to buzz unknown people in, not to allow piggybacking, and to call Public Safety if they feel unsafe.
    9. present: Safety tips tell readers not to buzz unknown people in, not to allow piggybacking, and to call Public Safety.
    10. present: Safety tips instruct readers not to buzz strangers in, not to allow piggybacking, to retrieve packages promptly, and to call Public Safety.
    11. present: Safety tips instruct not to buzz unknown people in, not to allow piggybacking, and to call Public Safety if needed.
    12. present: Safety tips tell readers not to buzz strangers, not to allow piggybacking, and to call Public Safety if they feel unsafe.
    13. present: Safety tips tell recipients not to buzz strangers, not to allow piggybacking, to retrieve packages promptly, and to report broken doors.
    14. present: Safety tips tell readers not to buzz unknown people, not to allow piggybacking, to retrieve packages promptly, and to call Public Safety if unsafe.
    15. present: Safety tips instruct recipients not to buzz strangers in, not to allow piggybacking, to retrieve packages, and to call Public Safety.
    16. present: Safety tips tell readers not to buzz strangers in, not to allow piggybacking, and to report broken doors or locks.
    17. present: Safety tips instruct readers not to buzz strangers in, not to allow piggybacking, and to report broken doors.
    18. present: Safety tips tell readers not to buzz strangers, not to allow piggybacking, to retrieve packages promptly, and to call Public Safety.
    19. present: Safety tips tell recipients not to buzz unknown people, not to allow piggybacking, and to call Public Safety if unsafe.
    20. present: Safety tips tell readers not to buzz unknown people in, not to allow piggybacking, and to call Public Safety.
    21. present: Safety tips tell readers not to buzz strangers, not to allow piggybacking, retrieve packages promptly, and call Public Safety if unsafe.
    22. present: Safety tips tell recipients not to buzz strangers in, not to allow piggybacking, and to call Public Safety.
    23. present: Safety tips tell readers not to buzz strangers in, not to allow piggybacking, and to report broken doors.
    24. present: Safety tips instruct readers not to buzz strangers in, not to allow piggybacking, and to call Public Safety if they do not feel safe.
    25. present: Safety tips instruct recipients not to buzz strangers, not to allow piggybacking, and to report broken doors and locks.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Time present via Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m., plus later report times.

    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: It timestamps the burglary on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m.
    2. present: It gives "Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m." plus other dates and clock times.
    3. present: It gives the occurrence as Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m., plus later report dates and times.
    4. present: It timestamps the burglary on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m., plus later report times.
    5. present: It gives a date and clock time: "Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m."
    6. present: It gives Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m., plus later dated reporting times.
    7. present: It timestamps the burglary as Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m.
    8. present: The burglary is timed to Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m., with a later report date and time.
    9. present: It states the burglary occurred on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m., plus other dates and times.
    10. present: It times the burglary on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m., with later report and repeat-incident dates.
    11. present: It gives dates and clock times, including "Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m."
    12. present: It timestamps the burglary "Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m." and gives other dates and clock times.
    13. present: The burglary is timed Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m., with later report times given.
    14. present: It timestamps the burglary as Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m., with later report and related incident times.
    15. present: It gives Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m., plus a Friday, April 11, 2025 report time.
    16. present: It gives a date and clock time: Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m.
    17. present: It timestamps the burglary as Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m.
    18. present: The burglary is timed Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m., with a later report date and time.
    19. present: The burglary is timed Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m.
    20. present: It timestamps the burglary on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m.
    21. present: It timestamps the burglary as Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m., with later report times.
    22. present: It gives a date and clock time: Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m.
    23. present: It gives Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m., plus later report and related crime times.
    24. present: It gives the date and clock time "Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m." plus later report times.
    25. present: It timestamps the burglary "On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at approximately 9:55 a.m."
  • Impactabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Impact absent: taking a package restates the burglary and does not state injury, danger, or other consequences.

    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 injury, danger, or other consequence is stated; taking a package is the burglary itself.
    2. absent: A package was taken, but the text does not state severity or harm such as injury or danger.
    3. absent: Package theft is described but the text does not state consequences or severity such as injury, danger, or harm to people.
    4. absent: Package theft is described with no statement of injury, danger, or other consequence beyond the crime itself.
    5. absent: A package was taken, but the text never states injury, danger, or other consequences beyond the burglary.
    6. absent: Package theft is described, but the text does not state injury, danger, or other consequences of the burglary.
    7. absent: A package was taken, but no injury, danger, or other consequence of the burglary is stated.
    8. absent: The body describes a stolen package but does not state injury, danger, or other consequences beyond the burglary itself.
    9. absent: Package theft is described, but the text never states injury, danger, or other consequences beyond the crime itself.
    10. absent: A package was taken, but the text does not state danger, injury, or other consequences beyond naming the crime.
    11. absent: A package was taken, but the text states no consequence or severity such as injury, danger, or harm to people.
    12. absent: A stolen package is the crime itself, with no statement of injury, danger, or other harm beyond naming burglary.
    13. absent: Package theft restates the burglary, and no incident-specific consequence or severity is stated.
    14. absent: Removing one package recounts the theft but does not state severity or potential harm beyond naming the burglary.
    15. absent: A package being removed restates the burglary and states no consequence or severity such as injury or danger.
    16. absent: A stolen package is described, but the text does not state consequences or severity such as injury or danger to people.
    17. absent: Package theft is named, but the text never states consequences or severity such as injury or danger.
    18. absent: Removing a package restates the burglary and no extra harm, danger, or severity is stated.
    19. absent: Removing a package is the theft itself, with no stated injury, danger, or other harm.
    20. absent: Taking a package restates the crime and does not add harm, injury, or severity language.
    21. absent: A stolen package is described, but the text does not state injury, danger, or other consequences beyond the crime itself.
    22. absent: Removing a package restates the burglary and does not state injury, danger, or other harm.
    23. absent: Taking a package restates the burglary and there is no injury, danger, or other severity language.
    24. absent: Taking a package is the burglary itself, and the Clery line about a "serious or continuous threat" is generic legal language, not a stated consequence.
    25. absent: It describes a package taken but does not state consequences or severity such as injury or danger.

Coded by SuperGrok Heavy 4.5

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

About this analysis
Context

Background

Columbia Public Safety posts Clery Crime Alerts as PDFs. Official product: the 2025-W11 warning.
Analysis

Key Findings

Official Clery Crime Alert PDF recovered from the Public Safety files host.
Outcome
Public Safety seeking tips at 212-854-2797.
Provenance

Sources

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  1. Official
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Columbia University: Timely warning for burglary at 181 Claremont Avenue." Incident of March 25, 2025. Added September 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/columbia-university-181-claremont-burglaries-2025-03-25/

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

Tags
private-r1new-yorkcolumbiaivycleryburglaryUnder Investigation
Added September 2026Updated September 2026Via ingestion