Vandals check back in at vacant Colony units

The last official guests at the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort checked out in August 2010. But since the resort closed approximately two-and-a-half years ago, it’s had some unwanted visitors who have entered units and damaged the property.

Police discovered the latest incident around 7:44 a.m. Saturday, April 13, when an officer noticed a second-floor, sliding-glass door was broken open in a unit. Police found that someone threw a drinking glass at the door, causing it to break, and also tried to kick the front door of the unit, causing damage to the frame.

An officer discovered another string of incidents during routine patrol around 9:14 a.m. Monday, April 8.
That’s when police found an air-conditioning unit running in Building 9, despite the fact the property is vacant. The glass case for the fire extinguisher nearby the unit was broken, and the extinguisher was missing.

Police discovered a broken wine glass and large knife with a black handle lying on the unit’s living room floor. The TV was on, but the screen was static. The thermostat cover was lying on the floor near the entrance.

Police also discovered a broken water glass on the interior staircase and a small knife with a black handle on the upstairs landing.

Larry Stritzel, hired by the Colony Beach & Tennis Association as the property’s manager, reported similar damage in two other units in Building 2.

Police processed the scenes for evidence.

Earlier, on April 3, police found an unknown person threw rocks into the high-rise building, damaging a window and door.

On March 30, Stritzel found a rock had shattered the sliding-glass door of the guardhouse. A wooden light pole was ripped out, and two other light poles were damaged. Doors to at least two units had been kicked in, and one window was broken.

Nothing was missing from the units.

Longboat Key Police Chief Pete Cumming said there are no indications that homeless people are using the property for shelter. Instead, the incidents appear to be “malicious damage.”

“Unfortunately, that’s going to happen when you have an area that’s just been abandoned by everyone,” he said.

The incidents appear to be seasonal.

Colony Beach & Tennis Association President Jay Yablon said the Association directed its property management company to have private security on the property during school vacation weeks.