Man Caught in Lowell Sorting Laundry

A man may be charged with breaking and entering for sorting through laundry in the Lowell House Masters’ residence late last month, according to the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD).

HUPD spokesperson Steven G. Catalano said that an employee of Lowell House approached the suspect,

Williamson St. Clair, 22, who was holding a pair of wet jeans. The employee did not recognize St. Clair, who is not affiliated with the University.

According to Lowell House Master Diana L. Eck, when the employee asked the suspect what he was doing in the laundry room, he replied that he was hiding.

St. Clair left the laundry room and the employee called the police. Catalano said that there was a “quick pursuit” of St. Clair, who fled from police, but was eventually identified and informed that he may face criminal charges.

Catalano said that while the suspect did not steal anything, the incident is still classified as a burglary because he “committed unlawful trespassing for purposes of theft.” The police said that he may also be charged with trespassing.

Catalano said he did not know how St. Clair entered the building, but Eck

said that the back door leading to the laundry room had probably “inadvertently been left open.”

“This is a reminder that if you don’t keep your doors locked, someone is going to come in,” Eck said.

“People want to be friendly and helpful to others, but you have to balance being nice and helpful with maintaining safety in the buildings,” Catalano said.

—Jenifer L. Steinhardt can be reached at steinhar@fas.harvard.edu.