Burglars strike again at CC Inn; Campus Safety spots suspects

Two weekends ago, burglars stole from one room in the CC Inn and two in the Elbert Asian House, which spurred a series of e-mails to students about staying safe and keeping their belongings through eighth block. Last weekend, burglars targeted the CC Inn once more, compelling Campus Security to consider hiring additional help.

Senior Dana Bronfman, the victim of the most recent burglary, called it “spooky.” 

“I’m glad I wasn’t there at the time,” Bronfman said. “I can’t run away. I wouldn’t have been able to defend myself.”

Bronfman shattered her tibial plateau and tore her ACL and miniscus tendons in a February ski accident that her surgeon called the worst injury he had seen all year. Because she she could no longer climb the stairs to her off-campus apartment, she moved into the CC Inn for blocks seven and eight.

On April 30, Bronfman said she decided to stay at a friend’s place rather than crutch home. She said she doesn’t usually spend the night out, so it wasn’t unusual that she left the lamp on and the blinds closed in her room. As with the burglaries the previous weekend, someone pried the window open, ransacked her belongings, opened her safe and took her laptop, case and charger.

However, the burglar didn’t take any of her expensive shoes, purses or jewelry. 

“It had to be a man because he didn’t take my Manolos,” Bronfman said. “I feel like a woman would have known to check.”

Ron Smith, Colorado College Chief of Security, said the burglaries have caused Campus Security to consider hiring extra patrol officers until May 16, after the semester ends.

“The more help we can get the better it is,” he said. “That’s better protection for everybody.”

He did not state when decisions about hiring additional patrol officers would be made.

Campus Safety and local police have been making random checks in the alley behind the CC Inn where most of the burglaries have occurred. On the night of Saturday, May 1, Campus Safety officers spotted two suspects: a Caucasian male, 17 to 19 years of age, 5’8” with close-cut or buzzed brown hair and the other an African-American male, 17 to 19 years of age, 5’10” with long dreadlocks in a ponytail.

Smith said the suspects were seen jumping a fence near the alley and running away from Campus Safety. He said there were several open windows right in front of them. 

“We lost them around the 7-Eleven,” Smith said, where they presumably hopped in a vehicle and got away. Smith said they are the only suspects associated with the burglaries at this time.

Smith sent an e-mail on Monday with the suspects’ full descriptions and instructed students to “lock your windows and doors, close the blinds and keep at least one small light on. Don’t make it easy for these individuals.” 

Many students have complained about the easy access to CC Inn windows and have requested the additon of bars to the windows and more lights in the alley. Additional lights have not been added to the alley because of a current agreement between Colorado College and local residents. 

In the wake of several burglaries, Residential Life denied rumors that the CC Inn may be torn down and replaced with an ice rink. Director of Residential Life and Housing John Lauer said that the college once met with the city of Colorado Springs to explore the possibility of partnering to construct an ice rink on the property, but “that idea is no longer probable for a variety of reasons.” 

“At this point, we see the need for using the CC Inn for student housing,” Residential Life Coordinator Paul York said. “Ever since I came to CC I’ve heard those rumors. It’s very interesting.” 

As the RLC in charge of the CC Inn, York emphasized that the Inn is a great place to live, and said that the lounge and kitchen will also be receiving a makeover in the summer.

“I have some plans to really pump up that space,” he said.

Bernadette Stocker contributed reporting to this article.