Campus Alert Archive
MIT

Burglary and Assault & Battery

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MIT Police issued a crime alert / timely warning on or about 2018-05-27. Full text is preserved from the official MIT Police Crime Alerts archive.

Alerts
1
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Private R1 · MA
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~12,000 studentsMIT Police Timely Warnings
Official alert policy
Read when and how MIT says it will use MIT Alert: 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 verbatim1994 chars
Please be advised that detailed information below pertains to an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary. The reporting party described the individual as: male, approximately 6' tall, black, short cropped hair, slim build, early to mid-20's, wearing a baggy oversized white T-shirt that fell to his buttocks and dark blue baggy shorts that extended past his knees. On Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM, MIT Police responded to a call concerning an unknown male, on an upper floor, at Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston. The reporting party stated she was asleep on an upper floor in the house. She awoke to someone touching her leg. As she awoke, she noticed the unknown individual stand up, flee the room, and run down the rear stairwell. Responding officers conducted a thorough search of the house finding no one matching the suspect's description. Suggestions While victims of crimes are never to blame for criminal activity, there are some precautions that can be taken. In order to protect yourself and your belongings from theft and/or facilitate the recovery of your stolen property, MIT Police encourage you to follow these tips: - Always lock your doors and windows. - Assure that door and window locks are in good working order. - Don't prop doors open. - See Something - Say Something: Immediately notify the MIT Police at 617-253-1212 or 100 from any campus phone if you believe a crime is occurring, has occurred, or is about to occur. - Report all tailgaters, report suspicious people/activity. The MIT Police want to remind the MIT community that we are located in an urban setting and share many of the crime and safety issues that exist in any city. The MIT Police are investigating this crime and request the assistance from the MIT community. If you wish to leave an anonymous tip please call 617-258-TIPS (8-8477). Issued by Sgt. Andrew Turco MIT Police Department 617-253-1212
Verify this quote
MIT Police Crime Alerts & Timely Warningspolice.mit.edufind archived copies
Transcribed from official police.mit.edu crime-alert page structured fields (Incident, Suspect, Summary, Suggestions, Issued by).
Page recovered live from MIT Police Crime Alerts archive.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude Opus 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.

Please be advised that detailed information below pertains to an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary. The reporting party described the individual as: male, approximately 6' tall, black, short cropped hair, slim build, early to mid-20's, wearing a baggy oversized white T-shirt that fell to his buttocks and dark blue baggy shorts that extended past his knees. On Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM, MIT Police responded to a call concerning an unknown male, on an upper floor, at Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston. The reporting party stated she was asleep on an upper floor in the house. She awoke to someone touching her leg. As she awoke, she noticed the unknown individual stand up, flee the room, and run down the rear stairwell. Responding officers conducted a thorough search of the house finding no one matching the suspect's description. Suggestions While victims of crimes are never to blame for criminal activity, there are some precautions that can be taken. In order to protect yourself and your belongings from theft and/or facilitate the recovery of your stolen property, MIT Police encourage you to follow these tips: - Always lock your doors and windows. - Assure that door and window locks are in good working order. - Don't prop doors open. - See Something - Say Something: Immediately notify the MIT Police at 617-253-1212 or 100 from any campus phone if you believe a crime is occurring, has occurred, or is about to occur. - Report all tailgaters, report suspicious people/activity. The MIT Police want to remind the MIT community that we are located in an urban setting and share many of the crime and safety issues that exist in any city. The MIT Police are investigating this crime and request the assistance from the MIT community. If you wish to leave an anonymous tip please call 617-258-TIPS (8-8477). Issued by Sgt. Andrew Turco MIT Police Department 617-253-1212

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. The warning closes "Issued by Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department, 617-253-1212", leaving no doubt about the sending 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: It is issued by Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department, with phone number.
    2. present: The closing "Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department" shows who issued the warning.
    3. present: "MIT Police responded" and the notice is "Issued by Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department".
    4. present: The notice is issued by Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department, an identified source.
    5. present: Signed "Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department", clearly identifying the issuing agency.
    6. present: "MIT Police" responded and the notice is issued by "Sgt. Andrew Turco" of that department.
    7. present: The notice ends "Issued by Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department", a clear issuing authority.
    8. present: The notice names "MIT Police" as responders and is signed "Sgt. Andrew Turco".
    9. present: Issued by "Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department", who also responded to the call.
    10. present: MIT Police are named as responders and Sgt. Andrew Turco issues the message.
    11. present: MIT Police are named as responders and "Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department" signs it.
    12. present: MIT Police responded and Sgt. Andrew Turco of the department issued the message.
    13. present: "MIT Police responded" and the signature "Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department" identify the sender.
    14. present: The MIT Police are named throughout and Sgt. Andrew Turco signs the notice.
    15. present: The notice closes with "Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department", identifying who issued it.
    16. present: Signed "Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department", and MIT Police responded to the call.
    17. present: The notice is issued by "Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department", naming who sent it.
    18. present: "Issued by Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department" identifies the sending authority.
    19. present: The MIT Police are named as responders and Sgt. Andrew Turco signs the notice.
    20. present: The sign-off "Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department" identifies who sent the warning.
    21. present: The notice is "Issued by Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department", a named sender.
    22. present: The notice names MIT Police responders and is issued by Sgt. Andrew Turco.
    23. present: Sgt. Andrew Turco of the MIT Police Department is named as the issuing officer.
    24. present: Signed "Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department", and MIT Police responded to the call.
    25. present: Issued by "Sgt. Andrew Turco, MIT Police Department", a named sender.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. The opening line specifies "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary", naming two offenses outright.

    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: The opening names "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
    2. present: It explicitly concerns "an assault and battery that occurred during the course of a burglary."
    3. present: It names "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
    4. present: It concerns "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary", both specific.
    5. present: It states plainly this is "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
    6. present: The header flags "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
    7. present: It states this concerns "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
    8. present: It states this is "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
    9. present: The opening flags "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
    10. present: It flags an assault and battery occurring during a burglary, both specific threats.
    11. present: The opening states this is "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
    12. present: It expressly covers "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
    13. present: The opening flags "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary", two specific crimes.
    14. present: It concerns "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
    15. present: It flags "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary", naming both crimes.
    16. present: The opening names "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
    17. present: It expressly concerns "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
    18. present: The opening flags "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
    19. present: It expressly concerns "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
    20. present: It expressly concerns "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
    21. present: It opens by flagging "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary."
    22. present: The opening flags "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
    23. present: The opening flags "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
    24. present: It expressly concerns "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
    25. present: The opening flags "an assault & battery that occurred during the course of a burglary".
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. The location is "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston", with the incident on an upper floor of the house.

    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: The location is "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston", upper floor.
    2. present: The scene is "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston", on an upper floor.
    3. present: It locates the incident at "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston".
    4. present: The site is Phi Kappa Theta, "located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston", upper floor.
    5. present: It places the call at "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston".
    6. present: It locates the incident at "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston".
    7. present: The address is "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston".
    8. present: The scene is "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston", an upper floor.
    9. present: The address is "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston".
    10. present: Phi Kappa Theta at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, upper floor, is the stated place.
    11. present: It locates the incident at "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston".
    12. present: The house is Phi Kappa Theta "located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston", upper floor.
    13. present: It names "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston", upper floor.
    14. present: The scene is Phi Kappa Theta "located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston".
    15. present: It points to "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston".
    16. present: It places the event at "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston".
    17. present: The location is "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston".
    18. present: It names "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston".
    19. present: It locates the event at "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston".
    20. present: It names "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston", an upper floor.
    21. present: The scene is "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston", an upper floor.
    22. present: It happened at Phi Kappa Theta, "229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston", on an upper floor.
    23. present: It happened "at Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston", on an upper floor.
    24. present: The site is "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston", upper floor.
    25. present: It places the call at "Phi Kappa Theta, which is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave, Boston".
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. Readers are told to "Always lock your doors and windows", "Don't prop doors open", and to notify MIT Police immediately if a crime is occurring.

    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: The suggestions direct readers to lock doors, avoid propping them and notify police immediately.
    2. present: It instructs the community to lock doors and windows, avoid propping doors, and report suspicious people.
    3. present: It instructs readers to lock doors and windows, avoid propping doors, and call police.
    4. present: Readers are advised to lock doors and windows, avoid propping doors, and notify MIT Police.
    5. present: It directs readers to lock doors and windows, not prop doors, and report suspicious people.
    6. present: Readers are told to lock doors and windows, avoid propping doors and notify police immediately.
    7. present: Readers are instructed to lock doors and windows, not prop doors, and notify MIT Police at once.
    8. present: It instructs readers to lock doors, avoid propping them open, and notify MIT Police immediately.
    9. present: Recipients are told to lock doors and windows, not prop doors, and call police immediately.
    10. present: Tips tell readers to lock doors and windows, not prop doors, and call MIT Police immediately.
    11. present: Tips instruct readers to lock doors and windows, avoid propping doors, and call MIT Police at once.
    12. present: Recipients are told to lock doors, avoid propping them, and report suspicious activity.
    13. present: Readers are told to lock doors and windows, not prop doors, and notify MIT Police of crimes.
    14. present: It urges readers to lock doors and windows and to notify MIT Police immediately.
    15. present: Readers are told to lock doors, avoid propping them, and call MIT Police immediately.
    16. present: Tips tell readers to lock doors and windows and notify MIT Police immediately about crimes.
    17. present: Recipients are instructed to lock doors, avoid propping them, and call MIT Police about crimes.
    18. present: Recipients are told to lock doors and windows, not prop doors, and notify police immediately.
    19. present: It advises locking doors and windows and notifying MIT Police immediately about crimes.
    20. present: Tips direct readers to lock doors, avoid propping them, and notify MIT Police immediately.
    21. present: Safety tips direct readers to lock doors and windows and report suspicious activity immediately.
    22. present: Recipients are urged to lock doors and windows and report suspicious activity promptly.
    23. present: The tips instruct recipients to lock doors and windows and to notify police immediately.
    24. present: It advises locking doors and windows, not propping doors, and calling MIT Police at once.
    25. present: Tips direct readers to lock doors and windows, not prop doors and call MIT Police immediately.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 25 of 25. The response is dated "On Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".

    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: Timing is explicit: "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".
    2. present: Dated "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM."
    3. present: The time is given as "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".
    4. present: Dated "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".
    5. present: The response time is "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".
    6. present: It gives "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM" as the response time.
    7. present: The event is timed "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".
    8. present: It gives "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM" for the police response.
    9. present: It gives "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".
    10. present: Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM is given.
    11. present: It fixes the event "On Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".
    12. present: It is dated "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".
    13. present: The call is dated "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".
    14. present: The response is dated "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".
    15. present: "On Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM" anchors the event in time.
    16. present: It gives "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".
    17. present: The response is dated "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".
    18. present: It gives "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".
    19. present: The time is "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".
    20. present: "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM" fixes when the incident happened.
    21. present: "On Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM" gives the date and time.
    22. present: Timed at "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".
    23. present: The event is placed "On Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".
    24. present: It fixes the event to "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".
    25. present: The time is "Sunday, May 27, 2018 at approximately 5:30 AM".
  • Impactpresent24/25

    Final assessment

    Present, 24 of 25, near unanimous. The consequence is bodily: a sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg" before the intruder fled, which the lone dissenter read as narrative rather than a severity claim.

    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: Physical violation is described: a sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg".
    2. present: The stated harm is physical: a sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg", conveying personal danger.
    3. present: Physical harm to a person is conveyed: a sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg".
    4. present: Personal harm is conveyed: a sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg".
    5. present: The sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg", conveying unwanted physical contact and harm.
    6. present: The harm is unwanted physical contact: a sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg".
    7. present: It conveys personal harm: a sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg" in an assault and battery.
    8. present: The sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg", showing real personal harm from such an intrusion.
    9. present: The sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg", a stated physical violation of a person.
    10. present: A sleeping resident awoke to a stranger touching her leg, conveying direct personal harm and vulnerability.
    11. present: A sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg", an assault conveying direct physical harm to a person.
    12. present: The victim "awoke to someone touching her leg", an unwanted physical contact showing the harm involved.
    13. present: A sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg", conveying real physical intrusion and harm.
    14. present: A sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg", conveying real physical harm to a person.
    15. present: The sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg", a stated personal violation and harm.
    16. present: A sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg", an unwanted physical contact and personal harm.
    17. present: Harm to a person is conveyed: a sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg" in an assault and battery.
    18. present: The harm is explicit: a sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg" in her room.
    19. present: Harm to a person is conveyed: a sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg".
    20. present: A sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg", an unwanted physical contact showing personal harm.
    21. present: The sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg", an assault conveying direct harm to a person.
    22. present: A sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg", unwanted physical contact showing real harm.
    23. absent: A resident was touched while asleep, but no injury, danger or severity is stated outright.
    24. present: The resident "awoke to someone touching her leg", an unwanted physical contact showing real harm.
    25. present: A sleeping resident "awoke to someone touching her leg", an unwanted physical contact framed as battery.

Coded by Claude Opus 5

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

About this analysis
Context

Background

MIT Police publishes Clery timely warnings and crime alerts at police.mit.edu/crime-alert with full incident narrative, safety guidance, and issuer attribution. This entry is from residual archive recovery for Burglary and Assault & Battery.
Analysis

Key Findings

Official MIT Police crime-alert page preserves complete timely-warning narrative text.
Outcome
MIT Police investigation status as stated in the official crime 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
    Burglary and Assault & Battery | MIT Police
    police.mit.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Burglary and Assault & Battery." Incident of May 27, 2018. Added July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/mit-burglary-and-assault-battery-2018-05-27/

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

Tags
mitmassachusetts-institute-of-technologytimely-warningburglarycrime-alertUnder Investigation
Added July 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion