COLLEGE PARK, MD – University of Maryland police say two men have been arrested in connection with a string of residential burglaries on campus that were reported on Aug. 30. UMPD officials said Tuesday that the arrests followed a campus investigation, a safety notice, and tips from the university community.
The men are Tyler Alexander Butler, 18, of Frederick, and Amir Christian Short, 19, of Mount Airy. Police said both were charged with multiple burglary-related offenses after investigators connected them to several incidents at South Campus Commons building No. 3.
How the campus investigation unfolded
According to UMPD, officers responded to South Campus Commons building No. 3 on Aug. 30 to investigate three residential burglaries. After that response, the department sent out a UMD Safety Notice that included photos of people police wanted to identify.
That notice appears to have generated a quick response from the campus community. Police said they received multiple tips after the email was released, along with two additional reports of residential burglaries. Investigators later verified those reports were connected to the same persons of interest.
Police identified Butler and Short as persons of interest
UMPD said Butler and Short were identified shortly after the extra tips and reports came in. A detective then applied for criminal charges on Sept. 3, several days after the burglaries and the campus alert.
Police have not said what led them to focus on the two men beyond the tips, reports, and their own investigation. The department also has not said whether any stolen property was recovered.
Charges include burglary, conspiracy and trespass
The two men were charged with five counts of fourth-degree burglary, five counts of common law conspiracy to commit burglary, and two counts of trespass on posted property. Those charges reflect both the alleged break-ins and the claim that the men worked together in carrying them out.
UMPD said the incidents were residential burglaries, meaning they involved campus living spaces rather than academic buildings. The department did not provide additional detail about how the burglaries were carried out or how many people were affected.
What campus officials told students and staff
The safety notice played a central role in the case, both as a warning and as a tool for identifying suspects. University police used the notice to share photos of persons of interest with the campus community and asked for help.
That approach brought in the tips that investigators said helped connect the reported burglaries. The case shows how quickly campus alerts can move from public warning to active investigative lead when students, staff and neighbors respond with information.
Questions that remain after the arrests
Police did not say whether Butler or Short are University of Maryland students. That remains unclear as the case moves forward through the criminal process.
UMPD also did not release details about court dates or whether the men were being held following their arrests. For now, the department says the investigation began with the Aug. 30 burglaries and advanced after community tips helped identify the suspects.
