{ "id": "2023-08-22-boston-university-burglary", "slug": "boston-university-burglary-2023-08-22", "institution": { "name": "Boston University", "shortName": "BU", "state": "MA", "type": "private-r1", "alertSystemName": "BU Alert", "alertPlatform": "Everbridge", "enrollment": 36700 }, "incident": { "date": "2023-08-22", "type": "burglary", "cleryCategory": "timely-warning", "headline": "Early-morning burglaries through open windows hit three residence halls near move-in", "headlinePublic": "Early-morning burglaries through open windows hit three residence halls near move-in", "summary": "Around move-in at Boston University, unknown suspects [entered residence halls along Bay State Road](https://www.bu.edu/police/2023/09/02/boston-university-police-crime-alert-burglary/) through open ground-floor windows in the early-morning hours, stealing property from student rooms. The pattern ran from an August 22, 2023 break-in at 111 Bay State Rd. (initially reported by MIT Police) to two September 2, 2023 incidents at [191 Bay State Rd. and 133 Bay State Rd.](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/09/03/metro/boston-university-police-investigate-three-burglaries-student-housing/). BU Police issued a consolidated timely-warning crime alert on September 2, 2023 urging students to secure doors and windows.", "outcome": "Suspect not identified. BU Police Detective Unit launched active investigation. No injuries reported. Crime alert prompted campus-wide window security awareness.", "resolution": "confirmed-threat" }, "alerts": [ { "sequence": 1, "type": "initial", "timestampApprox": "September 2, 2023", "channel": "email", "verbatimText": "Please see detailed information below regarding recent burglaries that occurred on and near campus that may affect members of the BU community.\n\nIncidents:\n\n09/02/2023 4:00 a.m. 191 Bay State Rd. An unknown person entered the residence through an open window on the ground level. Property was taken from inside the residence.\n\n09/02/2023 sometime between 03:00 a.m. and 06:00 a.m. 133 Bay State Rd. An unknown person reached through an open window. Property was taken from inside the residence.\n\n08/22/2023 04:42 a.m. 111 Bay State Rd. MIT Police reported that an unknown person entered the residence and stole property.\n\nSummary of Facts:\n\nPolice are investigating if these incidents are related.\n\nThe information we have suggests that the suspect is targeting accessible open or unlocked windows.\n\nBUPD is alerting the community to this situation so that you may take steps to help stay safe. We are asking the community to secure doors, accessible windows, and to lock security screens. Call BUPD immediately if you observe any suspicious behavior.\n\nSuspect: The suspect in this case has not been identified at this time.\n\nFollow Up: The Boston University Police Detective Unit is actively reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding these incidents and is encouraging anyone who may have information to come forward and contact the Boston University Police at (617) 353-2121.\n\nCommunity members wishing to assist this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘BU’ to TIP411 (847411). We appreciate any information that you are comfortable sharing with us.\n\nResources\n\nBU Student Health Services is available at 617-353-3575 to connect with professional counseling services.\n\nBUPD is at 617-353-2121anytime to report crimes or emergencies.\n\nFacilities Management & Planning is available at 617-353-2105 if your doors, windows, or security screens do not lock properly.\n\nAdditional Resources Resources | Police Department (bu.edu)\n\nThe following is provided as a reminder to our BU Community:\n\nRisk reduction and safety precautions:\n\nDon’t confront a thief yourself. These individuals are generally in search of property, and it is not worth getting in a physical confrontation with them. Call BUPD 617-353-2121.\n\nRecognize the signs. If you see damage to your door, especially around the door handle, don’t enter the room. You don’t want to surprise a thief. Go somewhere safe and call BUPD to come check it out.\n\nMake it hard on them. Thieves will look for unlocked doors and windows. By locking the door to your residence and locking any window with access to a fire escape, you dramatically reduce your chances of being victimized.\n\nHelp your neighbor. Close any common doors to the building that are left propped open and unattended. If a thief can get easy access to the building, they can easily look for unlocked rooms.\n\nKnow your neighbors. When you recognize your neighbors, it’s easier to spot someone who shouldn’t be in your building.\n\nSee Something Say Something\n\nProgram your cell phone with the BU Police emergency number 617-353-2121. Call us if you need assistance on or near the BU Charles River, Fenway or Medical Campus. We are ready to respond to your calls 24 hours a day 7 days a week.\n\nIf you are off campus call\n\nText BUPD anonymously by texting “BU” to 847411.\n\nAdditional safety strategies:\n\nIf you feel threatened on campus, look for a Blue Light emergency telephone or dial 3-2121 from any on campus telephone.\n\nUtilize Scarlet Safe Walk 617-353-4877 or public transportation.\n\nBe aware of your surroundings.\n\nPay attention to our BU Alert messages and keep your information up to date.\n\nTrust your instincts – if a particular situation makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, choose an alternative.\n\nLet your friends know when you are leaving and arriving at your destination at the end of the night.\n\nIssued by:\n\nBoston University Police Department\n\n617-353-2121\n\nWHAT IS THIS NOTICE?\n\nThis notice is a Timely Warning which is intended to alert our community about certain crimes occurring on campus which represent a serious or continuing threat to the community. We intend to provide as much information as possible in the hope of preventing another such incident.\n\nFEEDBACK: We welcome your feedback to help make our messages better. Please send to bupolice@bu.edu", "isVerbatimConfirmed": true, "sourceUrl": "https://www.bu.edu/police/2023/09/02/boston-university-police-crime-alert-burglary/", "sourceDescription": "BU Police Crime Alert Archive", "annotations": [ "Alert consolidates three incidents spanning August 22 to September 2, 2023 into a single timely warning, a common practice for serial property crimes", "All three targeted buildings sit on Bay State Road, BU's primary residential corridor of student housing", "Incidents occurred during move-in week when students are most vulnerable, unfamiliar with surroundings, doors propped open, windows left ajar", "The phrase 'plucked property through an open window' is unusually specific, distinguishes between entry and reach-in theft", "Timely warning issued 11 days after first incident, reflects the Clery Act's 'as soon as pertinent information is available' standard for pattern crimes", "2026-09-21 second deep audit b50 P4 a1-noledger-single-alert-public-case. Recapture official product at product boundary. Dual html.parser walk+regex. Cap-exempt R1." ], "characterCount": 4384 } ], "context": "Move-in week at urban universities is a peak period for property crimes. Students are settling into new living situations, often leaving windows open in late-August heat, and are unfamiliar with building security protocols. [Bay State Road](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_State_Road) is [Boston University's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_University) primary residential corridor, a stretch of historic brownstones converted to dormitories along the Charles River. The three targeted buildings are within a few blocks of each other, suggesting a single suspect who knew the area. BU issued the [timely warning as a consolidated alert](https://www.bu.edu/police/2023/09/02/boston-university-police-crime-alert-burglary/) covering the pattern of incidents, which is standard practice under the [Clery Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clery_Act) when multiple related crimes indicate a continuing threat. This case represents the most common type of Clery timely warning, property crime, which vastly outnumbers emergency notifications in most institutions' annual security reports but receives far less public attention than shootings or bomb threats.", "keyFindings": [ "Property crime timely warnings are the most common type of Clery alert at most institutions but are severely underrepresented in public discourse about campus safety", "Move-in week creates a predictable vulnerability window that experienced criminals exploit, a finding consistent across urban campuses nationwide", "BU's consolidated approach (one alert for three incidents) is standard Clery practice but means students may not realize the pattern until days after the first crime", "The distinction between 'entered the residence' and 'plucked property through an open window' reflects careful legal language, entry vs. non-entry affects the criminal charge" ], "sources": [ { "title": "Boston University Police Crime Alert: Burglary", "url": "https://www.bu.edu/police/2023/09/02/boston-university-police-crime-alert-burglary/", "type": "official-archive" }, { "title": "Property stolen through open dorm windows at BU (Boston Globe)", "url": "https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/09/02/metro/property-stolen-through-open-dorm-windows-bu-officials-say/", "type": "local-media" }, { "title": "At least 2 burglaries near Boston University's campus during move-in week (NBC Boston)", "url": "https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/unnerving-at-least-2-burglaries-near-boston-universitys-campus-during-move-in-week/3127021/", "type": "local-media" } ], "confidence": "high", "tags": [ "burglary", "timely-warning", "property-crime", "move-in-week", "urban-campus", "window-entry", "serial-crime", "massachusetts" ], "dateAdded": "2026-04-04", "lastUpdated": "2026-09-21", "addedBy": "ingestion" }