What Safety and Security Services Does MIT Police Offer?

Updated

MIT Police provides 24/7 emergency response and a set of everyday safety services for the MIT community, including the SafeRide Shuttle, lost and found, laptop registration, bike registration and safety programs, fingerprinting, event police details, crime prevention seminars, and access to police logs, timely warnings, and the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. These services are described on police.mit.edu and are aimed at students, staff, faculty, and campus visitors. For an emergency, call (617) 253-1212 or dial 100 from any MIT phone.

Emergency and Reporting

  • Emergency line, 24/7: (617) 253-1212, or 100 from any MIT phone.
  • Report a Crime: the site provides an online route for reporting a crime, accident, or incident.
  • Anonymous Sexual Assault Form: an anonymous reporting option is listed among the online tools.
  • Clery Report for CSAs: a reporting channel for Campus Security Authorities.

The department describes its mission as delivering “total quality service” to the community, with a focus on a safe academic environment and emergency medical service 24 hours a day, every day.

Daily Safety and Convenience Services

Service What it is for
SafeRide Shuttle Campus-area ride service listed under Resources
Lost and Found Recovering lost items
Laptop Registration Registering laptops as a property-protection step
Bike Safety & Security / Bike Registration Bike security guidance and registration
Fingerprinting Fingerprinting service listed under Online Tools & Forms
Event Police Detail Arranging police coverage for events
Crime Prevention Unit seminars Interactive safety seminars for any MIT department, lab, or center

The Crime Prevention Unit seminars focus on personal safety and property protection and can be requested by MIT departments, labs, and centers. Note that MIT policy prohibits skateboards, bicycles, roller skates, scooters, and other wheeled personal transportation inside Institute buildings, except for medical mobile equipment — relevant if you plan to bring a bike to campus.

Alerts, Logs, and Reports

  • MIT Alert: sign-up is available from the site’s “Keeping The MIT Community Safe” section.
  • Police Logs: daily log entries and police bulletins are published.
  • Timely Warnings: crime warnings issued to the community.
  • Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: the 2026 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is published and available on the site.

These are the places to check for ongoing incidents, reported crime patterns, and the department’s formal safety disclosures.

Location and Contact

The MIT Police Department has moved to 565–570 Memorial Drive, Building W91, Cambridge, MA 02139. The site also offers feedback routes, including a positive feedback form and a complaint form, plus a department FAQ and careers information (the department notes it is hiring dispatchers).

Practical Notes

  • Use the emergency line only for emergencies; for non-urgent reports, use the online “Report a Crime” route.
  • If you organize an event that needs police coverage, plan the request through the event police detail option rather than the emergency line.
  • If you live or work on campus, signing up for MIT Alert and registering your bike or laptop are low-effort steps that make later recovery or notification easier.
  • For current details on any service — hours, eligibility, or how to request it — check the corresponding page on police.mit.edu, since the site is the authoritative source.