Dear Temple Community,  

This is a timely warning that the university has received four reports of residential burglaries that occurred on Thursday, July 9, 2026. Temple University’s Department of Public Safety and the Philadelphia Police Department are investigating the incidents and working to identify suspect(s). The incidents occurred at four private residences located off campus, including two belonging to students and two belonging to community members. At this time, we do not know if the incidents are related; however, we are asking our community to be vigilant and to take appropriate safety precautions.

The reported incidents include:  

• The 1700 block of Page Street – An unknown offender entered a residence, and several items were reported stolen. 
• The 1700 block of N. 16th Street – A resident returned to their unoccupied home and discovered damaged property. Nothing was reported stolen.
• The 1900 block of N. 18th Street – A resident returned to their unoccupied home to find a basement window broken. Nothing was reported stolen.
• The 1900 block of N. 18th Street – A resident discovered a rear window had been broken while the home was unoccupied. A gaming console was reported stolen.

As these investigations are ongoing, we strongly encourage students with information or video footage of these areas to contact: 

• Temple Police at 215-204-1234 or email [click-for-email]
• The PPD Tip Line at 215-686-TIPS (8477)
• Central Detectives at 215-686-3093
• Temple’s Investigations Unit at 215-204-6200 

When it comes to keeping safe, please keep these tips in mind.  

• Report suspicious activity immediately to Temple Police.
• Never prop exterior doors.
• Always keep windows and doors secure with adequate locks. If a lock in your residence is broken, contact the landlord immediately.
• Ensure or maintain good lighting at all entrances and keep porch lights on at night.
• Do not leave valuables in plain view.
• Consider installing security cameras or video doorbells.  

As a reminder, the TUSafe app allows users to connect directly with Temple’s Department of Public Safety. More safety resources can also be found at safety.temple.edu. 

Sincerely, 

Denise Wilhelm 
Interim Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police