Burglar Strikes at SAC

Smashed / The suspect broke through a glass window Sept. 6 and looted Phillips Hall. He remains at large. / courtesy of RSCCD

By Liz Monroy

A burglar broke into an empty Phillips Hall Theatre early Sept. 6, making off with thousands of dollars of equipment and other valuable items, Sean Small, technology and production coordinator said.

The burglar shattered a window and entered through the theatre’s green room, made his way into professor Chris Cannon’s office and stole several items, including a new HD camera.

Phillips Hall does not have anti-theft alarms, but a single surveillance camera recorded the incident.

In the past three years at least 14 burglaries have occurred from district buildings.

About six occurred on Santa Ana College’s campus from 2010 to 2013, according to RSCCD’s annual security report.

Blood splatters were found on the south side of the hallway facing Cannon’s office. Investigators are testing blood for DNA, Small said.

Along with the camera, the suspect grabbed a replica Star Wars light saber, several realistic-looking prop guns, boom microphones and an iPod Touch from Cannon’s office.

The stolen items were valued at about $4,000, Small said.

The surveillance video reveals that the burglar rummaged around the light stage, wig room and other areas but it appears that nothing was stolen, Small said.

“There was shattered glass everywhere,” sophomore Ana Reyes said.

The suspect is described as male with close-cropped black hair, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and at least 160 pounds.