Allegedly high on meth, burglar entered school through the roof

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The burglary at Littleton High School on May 19 was allegedly committed by a woman who wandered into the school through an unlocked hatch on the roof after inhaling methamphetamine, according to police documents.

According to the arrest affidavit, 33-year-old Christine Ward told police she saw people following her after inhaling meth early on the morning of May 19. She stumbled upon the high school when attempting to flee from the people following her.

She allegedly wanted to enter the building to steal items to use as a disguise from the people following her, the affidavit says.

After encountering several locked doors, she allegedly climbed onto the roof and entered the building through a latched — but unlocked — hatch, according to officials.

In an email to Colorado Community Media, Littleton Public Schools communications manager Nicole Moyer said maintenance personnel left ladder and hatch locks unsecured, but the district does not know if an em- ployee or an outside contractor made this error.

When police arrested Ward, she was wearing a black wig she had allegedly stolen from the building and had various other stolen items, according to their report.

Officials said the total value of the stolen items is about $200.

Ward was charged with seconddegree burglary, possession of drug paraphernalia and theft, according to the arrest affidavit.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, burglary is the unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or theft.

“That’s why it was seconddegree burglary, because she did break into the school, and then theft because it was pretty petty, minor,” said Littleton Police spokesperson Sheera Poelman. Poelman said the Littleton Police Department searched and cleared the entire building twice before declaring it safe.

“We never want to assume anything when it comes to the safety of (Littleton Public Schools) students, staff, and the Littleton community as a whole,” she said.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office assisted the responders