Ohio State University students living in Lincoln and Morrill towers are on alert after campus police reported a small string of dorm burglaries inside the high-rise residence halls. According to Ohio State University Police, property was reported stolen from three rooms, and investigators think the culprit slipped into the buildings by tailgating behind someone with access before heading into rooms with doors left propped open. The safety notice urged students to lock up and call campus police if anything feels off.
The warning followed several theft reports to campus officers, with officials telling WSYX that three separate rooms had items taken. The station reported that police believe the suspect most likely slipped into the halls by trailing behind a resident with access, then walked into rooms that had been left propped open. OSUPD has not said whether anyone has been arrested and is asking anyone with information to call 614-292-2121.
Campus access and safety measures
Lincoln and Morrill towers are among the residence halls that stay locked 24/7, and residents must swipe their BuckID to get in at the entrances and, in some cases, to ride the elevators. Ohio State’s housing office also tells students not to prop exterior doors and to personally escort guests through secured entry points. According to Ohio State Housing and Residence Education, residents of those towers must always swipe their BuckID to access the elevator.
How students can reduce risk
Police and university safety pages emphasize straightforward habits such as locking doors, escorting visitors and keeping valuables out of sight as the most effective way to cut down on opportunistic theft. The Ohio State Department of Public Safety advises students to save the non-emergency OSUPD number in their phones and to report suspicious behavior to 614-292-2121. Those who want regular updates can subscribe to the department’s public safety notices on its website.
Context for campus concerns
The latest warning lands on a campus already wary from other safety scares in recent years. In April 2025, local outlets reported an OSUPD investigation after hidden cameras were found in a Morrill Tower bathroom, a case that also led students to contact police. NBC4 covered that earlier voyeurism probe and likewise told viewers that anyone with information should reach out to campus police. Officials have not linked that investigation to the current burglaries, but the earlier case has left many residents more sensitive about unsecured common areas.
Anyone with information about the Lincoln or Morrill Tower burglaries is asked to contact The Ohio State University Police at 614-292-2121. Tips can also be submitted through the department’s site at The Ohio State University Department of Public Safety. University officials reiterated that criminal activity is not the fault of the victim and urged students to report thefts quickly so investigators have the best chance to preserve evidence and chase down leads.
