Dec. 6 – Dec. 21: A Scorched Canoe

Though HUPD has responded to fewer noise complaints and reports of "loud part[ies]" over the last few weeks, HUPD continued to respond to numerous reports of "suspicious activity" and an extraordinarily high rate of computer theft. As part of our Securitas series, we’ve combed through HUPD log entries from the last few weeks and published some of the more colorful entries below.

BY THE NUMBERS

Reports of “suspicious activity”: 29

Reports of “unwanted guest[s]”: 5

Reports of "loud part[ies]": 5

Noise complaints: 9

Total value of stolen computers: $30,249.97

Total value of stolen cash: $1,635.76

Total value of stolen bikes: $395.00

Dec. 7, 2010

Suspicious Activity (11:08 p.m.)

Barker Center, 12 Quincy St., Cambridge

Officers dispatched to a report of two suspicious individuals climbing up a light pole on a ladder. Officers report the individuals were studying the height of bids [sic] nests in the city.

Dec. 9, 2010

Suspicious Activity (1:27 a.m.)

Winthrop House H, 32 Mill St., Cambridge

Officers dispatched to a report that an individual awoke to find another individual in their room. The individual was told to leave, to which they complied and then returned a few minutes later and knocked on the individuals door. When the individual informed the other individual they were calling the HUPD, they fled the area. Officers arrived and located the individual and transported them to a medical facility.

Suspicious Activity (4:19 p.m.)

School of Public Health 1613, Tremont St., Boston

Officer dispatched to a report that an individual found things moved around in their office. The individual was informed cleaning services had moved the items to clean.

Dec. 10, 2010

Assist Cambridge Police (3:26 a.m.)

Lampoon, 44 Bow St., Cambridge

Officer dispatched to assist CPD with a report of individuals throwing chunks of ice out of the window. Officers spoke with the individuals who stated they were throwing chunks of an ice sculpture out the window to dispose of it. The individuals picked up the ice from the street.

Suspicious Activity (7:59 p.m.)

Mower Hall A, 16 Harvard Yard, Cambridge

Officer dispatched to a report of a suspicious group of individuals in the area, kneeling. Officer reports the individuals were gone on arrival.

Dec. 11, 2010

Suspicious Activity (7:59 p.m.)

JFK Park, 968 Memorial Drive, Cambridge

Officers dispatched to a report of four individuals breaking bottles at the fountain. Officers arrived and reports the individuals were gone on arrival and there was no broken glass in the area.

Fire (8:04 p.m.)

Faculty Row 52B, 968 Memorial Drive, Cambridge

Officers dispatched to a report of a fire. Upon arrival officers were informed the individual had extinguished a gas grill fire with a fire extinguisher. The grill and propane tank were destroyed and a canoe that was in the area had been scorched.

Dec. 15, 2010

Suspicious Activity (2:41 a.m.)

Cronkhite Graduate Center, 84 Brattle St., Cambridge

Officer dispatched to a report of a suspicious note. Officer reports the situation was a misunderstanding and the note was trash.

Suspicious Activity (7:42 p.m.)

Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge

Officer dispatched to take a report of suspicious activity. The individual informed the officer while they were walking, an individual driving a vehicle approached them and asked for their name and phone number. The reporting individual stated they told the individual no and the individual left the area.

Dec. 16, 2010

Fire (2:28 p.m.)

Weld Boathouse, 971 Memorial Drive, Cambridge

Officers dispatched to a report that individuals lit a fire to stay warm. Officers arrived and report the individuals were gone on arrival. The officer extinguished a small area that was smoldering.

Disturbance (4:39 p.m.)

Holyoke Center, 1350 Mass. Ave., Cambridge

Officers dispatched to a report of an individual causing a disturbance. The individual was yelling and banging on tables in the area. Officers arrived and report the individual was upset because they were not giving out food. The individual was sent on their way.

Theft Report (8:27 p.m.)

College Dining Hall, 80 JFK St., Cambridge

Officers dispatched to a report of a theft in progress. Upon arrival the officers were informed an individual has [sic] stolen a milk crate out of a van and fled the area. Officers searched the area for the individual with negative results. Officers report it is unknown if there was anything in the milk crate at the time it was stolen.

Dec. 18, 2010

Suspicious Package (11:46 p.m.)

Business School Lot, 112 Western Ave., Allston

Officer dispatched to a report of a suspicious package. Officer arrived and reports it was an empty suitcase and not suspicious.

Dec. 20, 2010

Suspicious Activity (2:20 p.m.)

Massachusetts Hall, 11 Harvard Yard, Cambridge

Officers dispatched to a report of a suspicious individual asking strange questions in the area. Officers report the individual was lost and directed them to their destination.