A secure-in-place order was issued at Catawba College on Friday afternoon after the Salisbury Police Department tracked a suspected burglar’s movements from an adjacent neighborhood onto campus.

According to a statement from Dean of Students Dr. Jared Tice, “At approximately 4:10 p.m., Catawba Public Safety was contacted by the Salisbury Police Department about an individual fleeing on foot onto campus near the Robertson College-Community Center.”

The individual was suspected of a breaking and entering incident off-campus in an adjacent neighborhood.

Additional SPD personnel and emergency agencies, including a K9 unit, reportedly responded immediately to the scene.

An additional update was sent at 4:39 p.m. providing details of the location near the Robertson College-Community Center and informing people to continue to secure in place. Members of SPD notified the college that they no longer believed the suspect was on campus, and Catawba provided an all-clear notice at 4:55 p.m.

Mental health counseling and Catawba College’s chaplain services on campus were available to support anyone impacted by the incident.