In all four incidents, occupants reported that between 11:00 PM on Friday, October 28th and 2:00 AM on Saturday, October 29th, several items were stolen from their rooms. In three (3) of the incidents, the residences were unoccupied at the time of the thefts, and in one (1) incident, an occupant observed an unknown male open the door to their bedroom before leaving the residence. In each of the unlawful entries, the door to the residences were either unlocked, propped open, or the locking mechanisms were disengaged. The occupants reported stolen laptops, iPads, Airpods, a backpack, a wallet, cash, and other miscellaneous items.
At this time, it is unclear whether these incidents are connected. HUPD detectives are actively investigating these incidents. If you have any information about these incidents, please call the Harvard University Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 617-495-1796.
Although unlawful entries (burglaries) into occupied rooms are very rare, the HUPD wants to remind you of precautions you should take to keep yourself and your valuables safe.
- Residents should always keep doors and windows locked, even if you are leaving for a brief period of time. The HUPD strongly discourages residents from propping open or disengaging any locking mechanisms. Residents should not prop interior or exterior doors at any time, hold an outside door open for strangers, or allow unknown persons to “piggyback” on their access card.
- If at any time you observe someone acting in a suspicious manner in your building or attempting to enter residences, please call the Harvard University Police Department at 617-495-1212 immediately. Suspicious behavior may include a stranger knocking on your door and asking an out-of-place question, such as “did you lose these keys,” or making an excuse for being found in your room (“I was looking for …”).
- Residents should close their windows when leaving their rooms, even for short periods of time; should not disengage the “ventilation stop” on first-floor windows; and should keep all property away from windows in order to prevent someone from reaching in and removing it.
- If you arrive home and it appears that an unlawful entry was made to your room, please do not enter. Call the Harvard University Police Department immediately at 617-495-1212 from the safety of a neighbor’s room. At no time should you enter the room, touch anything, or confront someone in the room or the building.
For more detailed information on safety and security, please read the Harvard University Police Department's Annual Security Report, which can be found at www.hupd.harvard.edu/annual-security-report.
For questions about this advisory, please contact the Harvard University Police Department's Public Information Officer, Steven G. Catalano, at 617-495-9225 or by email at steven_catalano@hupd.harvard.edu.
Disseminated at 6:00 PM on October 29, 2022.