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MIT

Timely warning for burglary and confrontation in Building E52

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On March 30, 2026, MIT Police issued a timely warning for a burglary at Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive in which cash was taken and later returned after a confrontation, with credit cards still missing.

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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 verbatim2526 chars
On March 30, 2026, at 9:34am, the MIT Police received a report regarding a burglary in Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive. The incident reportedly occurred on March 30, 2026 between 9:00am – 9:34am. The reporting party indicated that he initially believed that $300 in cash was taken from his wallet while he was away from his office. During the course of the incident, the reporting party said that he confronted the suspect, who he believes may have brandished what appeared to be a screwdriver. After following the suspect and demanding the return of his property, the suspect eventually returned the cash to the reporting party and fled. Upon his return to his office, the reporting party discovered that three credit cards were also missing. The MIT Police are actively investigating this incident and are asking for any information bystanders or community members may have. The suspect is described as an older thin male, wearing a blue/grey beanie hat, a tan/coffee-colored oversized fuzzy jacket, and tan corduroy pants. Please report any sightings of this individual to the MIT Police. 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: • 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. • Always lock your residential and office doors and windows. Assure that the locks are in good working order. • Lock your residential or office door if you are leaving (even if only for a minute or two). • When entering or exiting an office, make sure the door closes tightly behind you. • Report person(s) acting in a suspicious, alarming or unsafe manner. Report all tailgaters. 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 Crime Analyst Gillian Daly MIT Police Department 570 Memorial Drive, W91 Cambridge, MA 02139 617-258-7303 mitpd@mit.edu WHAT IS THIS NOTICE? This notification is provided under the “Timely Warning” provision of the federal Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act.
Verify this quote
MIT Police timely warningpolice.mit.edufind archived copies
Full official notice text recovered from public university source.
2026-09-21 second deep audit P2 chrome R1: page-region concatenation duplicated a block (latest-update panel + body). Kept one copy. Paired demote+correct. Cap-exempt.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude Opus 5.5 (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.

On March 30, 2026, at 9:34am, the MIT Police received a report regarding a burglary in Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive. The incident reportedly occurred on March 30, 2026 between 9:00am – 9:34am. The reporting party indicated that he initially believed that $300 in cash was taken from his wallet while he was away from his office. During the course of the incident, the reporting party said that he confronted the suspect, who he believes may have brandished what appeared to be a screwdriver. After following the suspect and demanding the return of his property, the suspect eventually returned the cash to the reporting party and fled. Upon his return to his office, the reporting party discovered that three credit cards were also missing. The MIT Police are actively investigating this incident and are asking for any information bystanders or community members may have. The suspect is described as an older thin male, wearing a blue/grey beanie hat, a tan/coffee-colored oversized fuzzy jacket, and tan corduroy pants. Please report any sightings of this individual to the MIT Police. 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: • 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. • Always lock your residential and office doors and windows. Assure that the locks are in good working order. • Lock your residential or office door if you are leaving (even if only for a minute or two). • When entering or exiting an office, make sure the door closes tightly behind you. • Report person(s) acting in a suspicious, alarming or unsafe manner. Report all tailgaters. 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 Crime Analyst Gillian Daly MIT Police Department 570 Memorial Drive, W91 Cambridge, MA 02139 617-258-7303 mitpd@mit.edu WHAT IS THIS NOTICE? This notification is provided under the “Timely Warning” provision of the federal Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act.

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, unanimously: the notice is issued by the MIT Police Department.

    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 the MIT Police Department.
    2. present: The MIT Police Department is named as the issuer.
    3. present: It names the MIT Police and is issued by the MIT Police Department.
    4. present: MIT Police.
    5. present: It names 'the MIT Police' and is issued by the MIT Police Department.
    6. present: The MIT Police are named, and the notice is "Issued by" the department.
    7. present: Issued by the MIT Police Department.
    8. present: The MIT Police Department issues the notice.
    9. present: The MIT Police are named as the issuing agency.
    10. present: It says 'the MIT Police received a report' and is issued by MIT Police.
    11. present: The MIT Police Department is named and signs the notice.
    12. present: The MIT Police Department issues the notice.
    13. present: The MIT Police are the named issuer.
    14. present: The MIT Police Department is named as issuer.
    15. present: Issued by the MIT Police Department.
    16. present: The MIT Police are named as issuer.
    17. present: The MIT Police are named as the issuer.
    18. present: The MIT Police Department is named as issuer.
    19. present: Issued by the MIT Police Department.
    20. present: The MIT Police issue it.
    21. present: The MIT Police are named as issuer.
    22. present: The 'MIT Police' issue the notice.
    23. present: It is issued by the MIT Police Department.
    24. present: It is issued by the MIT Police Department.
    25. present: It says 'the MIT Police received a report' and is 'Issued by' the MIT Police Department.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, unanimously: it names "a burglary" in which the suspect may have brandished a screwdriver.

    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 a 'burglary' with a possible screwdriver brandished.
    2. present: It names a burglary with a possibly brandished screwdriver.
    3. present: It names a burglary in which a screwdriver was possibly brandished.
    4. present: Burglary with a confrontation.
    5. present: It names 'a burglary' with a possibly brandished screwdriver.
    6. present: It names a burglary with a possible screwdriver brandished.
    7. present: Names a burglary with a possibly brandished screwdriver.
    8. present: It names a burglary with a possibly brandished screwdriver.
    9. present: It names a burglary with a brandished screwdriver.
    10. present: It names 'a burglary' and a suspect who brandished what appeared to be a screwdriver.
    11. present: It names a burglary with a possible screwdriver brandished.
    12. present: It names a burglary and a possibly brandished screwdriver.
    13. present: It names a burglary with a brandished screwdriver.
    14. present: It names a burglary with a possibly brandished screwdriver.
    15. present: Names a burglary with a possible screwdriver brandished.
    16. present: It names a burglary with a possible screwdriver brandished.
    17. present: It names a burglary with a possibly brandished screwdriver.
    18. present: It names a burglary with a possible screwdriver brandished.
    19. present: Names a burglary with a possible brandished screwdriver.
    20. present: Burglary with a possible screwdriver brandished.
    21. present: It names a burglary with a possibly brandished screwdriver.
    22. present: It names a burglary with a confrontation.
    23. present: It names a burglary in which the suspect may have brandished a screwdriver.
    24. present: It names a burglary with a possible screwdriver brandished.
    25. present: It names 'a burglary in Building E52' with a suspect who may have brandished a screwdriver.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, unanimously: it gives "Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive".

    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 gives 'Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive'.
    2. present: It gives Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive.
    3. present: It gives Building E52, 50 Memorial Drive.
    4. present: Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive.
    5. present: It gives 'Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive'.
    6. present: It gives "Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive".
    7. present: Gives Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive.
    8. present: It specifies Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive.
    9. present: It gives Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive.
    10. present: It says 'Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive'.
    11. present: It gives "Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive".
    12. present: It specifies Building E52 at 50 Memorial Drive.
    13. present: It gives Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive.
    14. present: It names Building E52, 50 Memorial Drive.
    15. present: 'Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive'.
    16. present: It gives "Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive".
    17. present: It gives Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive.
    18. present: It gives Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive.
    19. present: Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive.
    20. present: Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive.
    21. present: It gives Building E52, 50 Memorial Drive.
    22. present: It gives 'Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive'.
    23. present: It gives 'Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive'.
    24. present: It gives Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive.
    25. present: It gives 'Building E52 / 50 Memorial Drive' as the location.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, unanimously: the tips tell readers to lock office and residential doors and report suspicious persons and tailgaters.

    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: Tips tell readers to lock office doors and windows and report suspicious persons.
    2. present: It advises locking doors and notifying MIT Police.
    3. present: It advises locking doors and immediately notifying police.
    4. present: Tips such as lock doors and notify MIT Police.
    5. present: It tells readers to 'Always lock your residential and office doors' and report tailgaters.
    6. present: It advises locking doors and notifying MIT Police.
    7. present: Tips tell readers to lock doors and report suspicious persons.
    8. present: It lists tips such as locking office doors and reporting tailgaters.
    9. present: Tips say to lock office doors and report tailgaters.
    10. present: Tips tell readers to 'Always lock your residential and office doors' and report tailgaters.
    11. present: It advises locking doors and reporting suspicious persons.
    12. present: It advises locking doors and reporting suspicious persons.
    13. present: It tells readers to lock doors and report tailgaters.
    14. present: It advises locking residential and office doors and windows.
    15. present: Tips say lock doors and notify MIT Police.
    16. present: It advises locking doors and notifying MIT Police.
    17. present: Tips advise locking doors and reporting suspicious persons.
    18. present: It advises locking doors and reporting suspicious persons.
    19. present: Tips such as 'Always lock your residential and office doors'.
    20. present: Tips to lock doors and report suspicious persons and tailgaters.
    21. present: It advises locking doors and notifying MIT Police.
    22. present: It advises locking doors and reporting sightings and tailgaters.
    23. present: It lists tips such as locking office doors and reporting tailgaters.
    24. present: It lists tips like locking doors and reporting tailgaters.
    25. present: It advises readers to 'Always lock your residential and office doors' and report tailgaters.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present, unanimously: it gives "March 30, 2026, at 9:34am" and the 9:00am to 9:34am window.

    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 gives 'March 30, 2026, at 9:34am'.
    2. present: It gives March 30, 2026, at 9:34am.
    3. present: It gives March 30, 2026 at 9:34am.
    4. present: March 30, 2026 at 9:34am.
    5. present: It gives 'March 30, 2026, at 9:34am'.
    6. present: It gives "March 30, 2026, at 9:34am".
    7. present: Gives March 30, 2026 at 9:34am.
    8. present: It gives March 30, 2026, at 9:34am.
    9. present: It gives March 30, 2026, at 9:34am.
    10. present: It gives 'March 30, 2026, at 9:34am'.
    11. present: It gives March 30, 2026 at 9:34am.
    12. present: It gives March 30, 2026, at 9:34am.
    13. present: It gives March 30, 2026 at 9:34am.
    14. present: It gives March 30, 2026, at 9:34am.
    15. present: 'March 30, 2026, at 9:34am'.
    16. present: It gives "March 30, 2026, at 9:34am".
    17. present: It gives March 30, 2026, at 9:34am.
    18. present: It gives March 30, 2026, at 9:34am.
    19. present: Gives 'March 30, 2026, at 9:34am'.
    20. present: March 30, 2026, at 9:34am.
    21. present: It gives March 30, 2026 at 9:34am.
    22. present: It gives 'March 30, 2026, at 9:34am'.
    23. present: It gives 'March 30, 2026, at 9:34am'.
    24. present: It gives March 30, 2026, at 9:34am.
    25. present: It says 'On March 30, 2026, at 9:34am' and gives the 9:00 to 9:34am window.
  • Impactabsent11/25

    Final assessment

    Absent by a narrow majority: the alert narrates a theft without stating danger or consequence to readers. A large minority read the suspect who "may have brandished what appeared to be a screwdriver" as implying harm.

    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: It narrates the theft without stating any danger or consequence for readers.
    2. present: The confrontation with what appeared to be a brandished screwdriver implies a threat of harm.
    3. absent: No injury or severity statement appears.
    4. present: Suspect may have brandished a screwdriver, conveying potential harm.
    5. absent: No injury or consequence is stated.
    6. absent: No injury or severity is conveyed beyond the theft.
    7. absent: No injuries or severity are stated.
    8. present: The suspect "may have brandished what appeared to be a screwdriver", implying a threat of injury.
    9. present: It says the suspect may have brandished a screwdriver when confronted, implying a threat of injury.
    10. absent: No injury, consequence, or severity is stated.
    11. present: It describes the suspect possibly brandishing a screwdriver during a confrontation, conveying danger.
    12. present: It describes the suspect brandishing what appeared to be a screwdriver, implying a threat of harm.
    13. present: The suspect may have brandished a screwdriver at the victim, implying risk of injury.
    14. absent: It states no consequence or severity beyond describing the theft.
    15. absent: No injury or severity statement is made.
    16. absent: No injury or severity statement is made.
    17. absent: No injury or severity statement is included.
    18. present: It says the suspect may have brandished what appeared to be a screwdriver, implying danger.
    19. absent: Describes the theft without stating severity or potential harm.
    20. absent: No injury or severity is stated.
    21. absent: No injury or severity statement is made.
    22. present: The suspect 'may have brandished what appeared to be a screwdriver', implying a weapon threat.
    23. absent: Only a possible screwdriver is mentioned; no injury or stated harm is conveyed.
    24. present: A suspect brandishing what appeared to be a screwdriver conveys a threat of violence.
    25. present: It says the suspect 'may have brandished what appeared to be a screwdriver' when confronted, conveying a threat of physical harm.

Coded by Claude Opus 5.5

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

About this analysis
Context

Background

MIT Police maintains a public timely-warnings archive. This incident's full notice is recovered from the official crime-alert page.
Analysis

Key Findings

Official MITPD timely-warning narrative with location and guidance
Outcome
MIT Police investigation ongoing; community tips requested in the notice.
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
    MIT Police timely warning
    police.mit.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Timely warning for burglary and confrontation in Building E52." Incident of March 30, 2026. Added July 2026; last updated September 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/mit-e52-burglary-attempted-aggravated-assault-2026-03-30/

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

Tags
burglarytimely-warningmit2026Under Investigation
Added July 2026Updated September 2026Via ingestion