Five windows smashed on Aspen High campus

Five large windows at Aspen High School were smashed with rocks late Wednesday night, causing more than $5,000 in damage.

The windows are to the left of the school’s entrance from its parking lot, looking into the commons. Each window will cost around $1,000 to replace, and a day’s work will be needed to knock out the damaged windows and board up the holes, said Brad Onsgard from the Aspen Police Department. He is the school’s resource officer.

The vandalism occurred sometime between 11 p.m. Wednesday and 6 a.m. on Thursday, Onsgard said. The first custodian to arrive on campus reported the vandalism to police.

Two of the windows shattered completely, two others were left with jagged holes, and one had a large spider web pattern of cracks.

No other damage was discovered at the school, and Onsgard said it does not appear the perpetrators entered the building.

“We’re looking for any people who might have heard anyone talking about getting back at the school for any reason,” Onsgard said. “But we don’t want to jump to conclusions – this could have been anyone, not just a kid who might be upset.”

Onsgard collected the five heavy rocks that were used in the crime. They appeared to be smooth river rocks that may have been taken from the surrounding unfinished landscaping.

School let out for the summer last week, and construction workers are still working on portions of the new campus.

There are security cameras set up in the high school’s parking lots, but Onsgard said they weren’t effective in this instance because it was dark and the lot’s overhead lights weren’t on. The lights are turned off during certain hours so homeowners won’t be disturbed.

Onsgard said hopefully a compromise can be reached with the surrounding neighborhood, and motion-detecting lights could be installed in the high school’s parking lot.

“It’s hard to say why someone did this, but we’re hoping someone will give us a call,” Onsgard said. “The glass can’t be cut for a few days, so the building will have to be boarded up. This affects a lot of people.”

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office at 920-5300.

[Naomi Havlen’s e-mail address is nhavlen@aspentimes.com]