Elitch Theatre's 6th Break-In Caught on Camera Since April

A Historic Venue Faces Repeated Vandalism by Teens

Denver’s Historic Elitch Theatre, a cultural landmark that has stood for 134 years, has recently become the target of repeated break-ins by groups of teenagers. These incidents have not only caused damage to the historic building but have also left organizers feeling violated and frustrated. The theatre, which predates the Denver Zoo, the Art Museum, and the Botanical Gardens, is considered one of the city’s most important historical sites.

The latest break-in occurred during the early morning hours, when a group of teens forced their way into the venue and took photos on the stage. This was the sixth such incident since early April, and while no major damage was reported this time, the repeated violations have taken a toll on the theatre’s staff and volunteers.

Greg Rowley, president of the Board of Directors, explained the significance of the theatre and the challenges it faces. “This theatre is actually Denver’s oldest cultural venue,” he said. “It’s a really important part of our history.” Despite its historical value, the building has been subjected to repeated intrusions, prompting the need for additional security measures.

“We were forced to spend some money and get security cameras and all,” Rowley said. “So we’ve been able to monitor the last couple. It’s young kids. It looks like it’s mostly the same kids that seem to be getting in.”

One of the recent break-ins involved the use of a crowbar to force open a stage door. Rowley showed FOX31 the damage, noting that the door had been repainted just two years ago. “We know this is new. We know this is how they got in,” he said.

Another incident occurred just over a week later, when the theatre’s alarm system was triggered. Rowley expressed concern about the safety of the teens who were wandering around the building in the dark. “It’s really not safe for them to be in here with the lights off and wandering around,” he said. “We just really need to find who these kids are and teach them that this is a crime, breaking and entering.”

In one instance, the teens climbed a 70-foot ladder that leads to the roof of the theatre. “When we saw they had been up there, we started looking around, making sure no one fell and had some horrible consequences,” Rowley added.

Despite the frustration, Rowley hopes to turn the situation around by inviting the teens for a public tour. “We would love to show them why this building is so important, but they can’t do it at 3 in the morning, it’s not OK,” he said. “It’s frustrating, it keeps happening over and over.”

Rowley also mentioned the financial struggles of the non-profit organization that maintains the theatre. “When we post the video, social media can be a bit of a nightmare, saying just hire a security guard,” he said. “But we don’t have that kind of money. We’re an all-volunteer non-profit and we struggle to pay our electric bill and water bill. We certainly don’t have the money to pay a 24/7 security guard.”

To address the issue, organizers installed eight more cameras at the beginning of the month and filed a police report with the Denver Police Department. If anyone has information about the teens involved in the break-ins, they are encouraged to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.

The theatre’s motto remains “the show must go on,” but the repeated vandalism has made it difficult for volunteers to maintain the building. Rowley hopes that through education and awareness, the community can help protect this historic site for future generations.