July 6th 2024.
On Monday night, the Historic Elitch Theatre was the target of a robbery where the perpetrators managed to steal hundreds of dollars worth of alcohol and other goods. According to Ellie Walker, a member of the theatre's board of directors, the thieves were able to gain access to the building by breaking through a door on the rooftop. Their entry caused $1,000 in damages to the 133-year-old building.
Once inside, the thieves spent a significant amount of time exploring different areas of the theatre, including the rooftop, auditorium, stage, and fly building. For those unfamiliar, a fly building is a backstage area that typically contains equipment to lift actors and props into the air using ropes, pulleys, and counterweights.
The Denver Police Department was notified of the incident through a police report, which stated that the thieves caused damage to the theater's dome when they climbed onto the roof and kicked in a door. The door was meant to provide access to a flagpole on top of the building. The break-in was discovered by a board member of the Historic Elitch Theatre Foundation on Tuesday afternoon around 4:30 p.m.
In a Facebook post shared on Tuesday evening, the foundation expressed their shock and disappointment at the break-in. They described the strange feeling of finding a door propped open when arriving at the theatre and the upsetting realization that someone had rummaged through the historic building.
The police report revealed that the intruder gained entry through the compromised door and proceeded to steal eight cases of alcohol, specifically beer and hard seltzers, worth about $200. Ellie Walker explained that the stolen alcohol was meant for the theatre's upcoming events, including a Friday night screening of "Barbie" and other summer movies.
Greg Rowley, the president of the foundation's board of directors, believes that a group of teenagers may be responsible for the break-in and theft. The foundation's Facebook post also mentioned that at least one person had climbed a 70-foot ladder in the backstage area during the invasion. This climb would have been extremely unsafe without the proper equipment, highlighting the dangers of breaking into an old building that is still undergoing restoration.
Despite the trespassers' reckless actions, the foundation is grateful that no one was injured during the break-in. They acknowledged that the theatre is still mid-restoration and has many unsafe locations, making it even more impressive that it has been serving the community for over 130 years.
As of now, the Denver police have not identified any suspects, but they are actively investigating the incident. Greg Rowley revealed in an email to the Denver Post that the thieves had unplugged some laptops, possibly with the intention of stealing them, but ultimately only took cases of alcohol.
The Historic Elitch Theatre has a rich history, having been built in 1891 as part of the original Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park. After the amusement park moved to downtown Denver in 1994, the theatre sat vacant for years until Greg Rowley and a group of volunteers began hosting movie screenings and backstage tours to raise money for its restoration.
In 2017, after 23 years of silence, live music returned to the theatre, and live theatre is set to return in August for the first time since 1978. Despite this recent setback, Ellie Walker expressed the theatre's determination to continue their work and ensure that their events proceed as planned. Sign up to receive crime news directly to your inbox each day and stay updated on the progress of the Historic Elitch Theatre's restoration.
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