When the stranger saw that Rawlins and her roommates were awake, he showed them a Harvard ID and told them he was a student before leaving the building.
Police arrested 19-year old Hermand Curry of Roxbury outside Matthews Hall. Chen's camera was found in Curry's possession, and he was charged with breaking and entering and receiving stolen property.
Last week, Curry, a former Cambridge resident, pled guilty to both charges. He had no prior record and received a suspended sentence and two years probation.
"We really had the goods on him," said Assistant District Attorney Kevin J. Curtin, who prosecuted the case. Curtin praised the HUPD for their rapid response.
Cambridge: A Safe Place?
Despite being the victims of crime, Tierney and Chen still believe Cambridge is a relatively safe city.
"I'm more conscious of whether I'm with a large group of people, but it hasn't kept me from going out," Tierney says.
But Tierney, Hammer and Chen agree that being victims of crime has taken some sense of security out of the ivory tower.