Quincy Tutor's Suite Robbed

An unidentified person broke into the residence of a Quincy House tutor and stole thousands of dollars worth of goods last Wednesday evening.

Resident tutor Timothy P. McCarthy ’93 said that he is missing his collection of close to 300 CDs, a watch with significant sentimental value, money and his gym bag. He estimated that he lost $4,000 to $5,000 worth of items in the burglary.

McCarthy said both the window and door to his room in 201 New Quincy showed signs of forced entry.

Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) spokesperson Steven G. Catalano said that this case is more serious than most campus thefts because it involves forced entry.

Catalano said only about 20 of the 500-plus thefts that HUPD handles each year involve signs of forced entry.

“Most of our thefts are unattended property and do not involve force,” said Catalano, who also said he was unaware of any other forced entry burglaries this school year.

McCarthy said he first became suspicious when he returned to his room at 8:30 p.m. last Wednesday and could not locate his gym bag, which he always stores in the same location.

When McCarthy returned from the gym around 10:30 p.m. and wanted to listen to music, he realized that his entire CD collection, which he started in high school, was also missing.

After surveying his apartment, McCarthy discovered that a watch his parents and grandparents gave him as a gift for his admission to Harvard had also been stolen.

“It’s the only thing I have ever had for as long as I have had it,” McCarthy said. “I have the note I got the watch with. The watch has enormous sentimental value.”

Catalano said the investigation is “ongoing,” but couldn’t discuss the status.

McCarthy said he has no idea who broke into his apartment, but believes the burglary occurred when he was at dinner—some time between 5 and 8:30 p.m.

“I lived in Quincy House as an undergraduate, and for the past four years. I consider it my home,” McCarthy said. “The incident is scary and makes me feel very suspicious. I hate to live that way.”

Allston Burr Senior Tutor Maria Trumpler sent an e-mail to Quincy House residents last Thursday night informing them of the burglary and urging them to contact HUPD if they have any information related to the burglary.

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