{
  "id": "2025-09-27-columbia-university-phone-snatchings-schapiro-amsterdam",
  "slug": "columbia-university-phone-snatchings-schapiro-amsterdam-2025-09-27",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Columbia University",
    "shortName": "Columbia",
    "state": "NY",
    "type": "private-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "Columbia Public Safety Clery Alert",
    "enrollment": 33000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2025-09-27",
    "type": "theft",
    "cleryCategory": "timely-warning",
    "resolution": "under-investigation",
    "headline": "Phone snatchings near Schapiro and Amsterdam Avenue",
    "headlinePublic": "Phone snatchings near Schapiro and Amsterdam Avenue",
    "summary": "Columbia Public Safety [issued Clery Crime Alert 2025-W28](https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/sites/publicsafety.columbia.edu/files/content/W28_Clery_Thefts-Phone%20Snatchings_SchapiroHall_W123standAmsterdamnAve_W110andRSD_W123StandLaSalleSt_2025-09-27-and-2025-09-29.pdf).",
    "outcome": "Public Safety seeking tips at 212-854-2797."
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "Clery Crime Alert\nThefts - Phone Snatchings\nColumbia University Public Safety was informed of four phone snatchings that may have been committed by the same individual. The first incident occurred on\nSeptember 27, 2025 at around 9:13 p.m. near Schapiro Hall (605 West 115 Street). The other three incidents occurred on September 29, 2025 at around 7:50\np.m., 9:08 p.m., and 10:13 p.m. near West 123 Street and Amsterdam Avenue, West 110 Street and Riverside Drive and West 123 Street between Broadway\nand LaSalle Street, respectively.\nIn each incident, an unidentified individual on a bicycle snatched the victims' phones from their hands, typically approaching from behind. CCTV footage\nsuggests that the same person may have been involved in two of the cases, and the same bicycle was used in three.\nAt least three victims have filed a report with the NYPD. If you have any additional information about this incident, please contact the Department of Public\nSafety at 212-854-2797.\nDescription of Reported Offender:\nThe suspect was observed on CCTV cameras and described by some of the victims as male-presenting with a dark complexion driving a black and red framed\nbicycle.\nHarm Reduction Strategies:\nBe aware of your surroundings, especially when walking alone.\nStay alert and tuned in to your environment. Remember that cell phones, earbuds and other electronic devices divert your attention away from your\nsurroundings and block out environmental sound, which increases your vulnerability.\nStick to the inner side of the sidewalk, away from the curb. This makes it harder for someone on a bike to reach you quickly.\nIf you must use your phone in public, step into a store or CU building, use your phone, put it away and then exit the building.\nIf you must use your phone, grip it firmly and keep it close to your body. Avoid holding it loosely or outstretched.\nRemember, both crowded and quiet streets can be targeted. In crowds, snatchers can disappear quickly; in isolated areas, there's less chance of\nwitnesses.\n\nDISCLAIMER: Clery Crime Alerts (Timely Warning Notifications) are distributed pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus\nCrime Statistics Act. Columbia University is required to alert the campus community when certain crimes occur in our Clery Act defined campuses that represent\na serious or continuous threat to the community.\nTo see this and other Clery Crime Alerts please visit our Public Safety website. For more information about Columbia University’s Clery Act compliance efforts,\nplease contact the Department’s Clery Act Compliance Director, Roberto A. Pineda Sanchez at ps-compliance@columbia.edu.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "confidence": "high",
      "sourceUrl": "https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/sites/publicsafety.columbia.edu/files/content/W28_Clery_Thefts-Phone%20Snatchings_SchapiroHall_W123standAmsterdamnAve_W110andRSD_W123StandLaSalleSt_2025-09-27-and-2025-09-29.pdf",
      "sourceDescription": "Columbia Public Safety Clery Crime Alert PDF (2025-W28)",
      "annotations": [
        "PDF text layer ligatures normalized to ASCII. sha256 1e7bd8d20aaf49e24fda85b38b667c71734b0b007826183691796e57be56cd64. Dual-fetch PDF bytes as packaged.",
        "Columbia Clery 2025-W28 flyer."
      ],
      "characterCount": 2666
    }
  ],
  "context": "Columbia Public Safety posts Clery Crime Alerts as PDFs. Official product: the [2025-W28 warning](https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/sites/publicsafety.columbia.edu/files/content/W28_Clery_Thefts-Phone%20Snatchings_SchapiroHall_W123standAmsterdamnAve_W110andRSD_W123StandLaSalleSt_2025-09-27-and-2025-09-29.pdf).",
  "keyFindings": [
    "Official Clery Crime Alert PDF recovered from the Public Safety files host."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Columbia Public Safety Clery Crime Alert PDF (2025-W28)",
      "url": "https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/sites/publicsafety.columbia.edu/files/content/W28_Clery_Thefts-Phone%20Snatchings_SchapiroHall_W123standAmsterdamnAve_W110andRSD_W123StandLaSalleSt_2025-09-27-and-2025-09-29.pdf",
      "type": "official-archive",
      "accessDate": "2026-09-21",
      "archiveUrl": null,
      "archiveNotes": "SPN not attempted after 500 flap at 07:36Z"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "private-r1",
    "new-york",
    "columbia",
    "ivy",
    "clery",
    "theft"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-09-21",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-09-21",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}