- March 29, 2024
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The Longboat Key Police Department has documented a long list of vandalism and break-ins since the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort closed in 2010, but an incident last week stands out as the costliest yet.
Former Colony Beach & Tennis Resort owner Dr. Murray “Murf” Klauber reported more than $100,000 worth of statues and artwork were stolen from his former fifth-floor mid-rise unit that overlooks the shuttered property.
Property Manager Larry Stritzel discovered the break-in July 23 and called Klauber, who came to the property with family members later that morning. The report states Klauber’s daughter, Katie Moulton, suggested at 4:30 p.m. July 23 that Stritzel call police to report that $100,000 worth of artwork had been stolen. Stritzel had already left for the day and reported it the next morning.
When police asked Klauber why he waited to report the theft, he told police he was in a state of shock.
Moulton and police declined to comment on the theft because of the ongoing investigation into the case.
The report states the items were wrapped in plastic, cardboard and newspaper.
According to the report, Klauber said it had been nearly six months since he had seen the artwork, and when he went into the unit on the morning of July 23, all that was left was the wrapping used to cover the art.
Klauber said two of the pieces had previously been in the Colony’s restaurant area, and the other three were in his unit.
The artist, Daniel Clayman, was a close friend who stayed with his family year after year at the property.
“These pieces were very, very valuable to me,” Klauber told the Longboat Observer.
Moulton said the family is investigating whether the stolen artwork will be covered through the family’s insurance plan.
When Stritzel originally discovered that vandals had entered the property July 17, police reports from that morning indicated that 33 rooms in six buildings were damaged.
The entry point to the main mid-rise building, where the stolen artwork was located, was near the entrance of the gift shop on the first floor. The unknown assailant entered the building by throwing a fire extinguisher through a plate glass door.
When police investigated again on July 24, the doorway had already been boarded up and it was not re-opened. Because of mold in the building, the scene of the crime was considered structurally dangerous, and the scene was not investigated in the location where it occurred.
Break-ins have been a frequent occurrence at the shuttered resort since it closed in August 2010.
After a string of incidents that occurred last year, the association put up a fence around the property’s entrance and several beachfront units.
Klauber, who had residential and office units on the fifth and sixth floors of the mid-rise that are now owned by Colony Lender LLC, moved out of the building in July 2012.
+ Colony unit owner access confusion
This week, Colony Beach & Tennis Resort officials questioned the protocol necessary to enter shuttered units after artwork valued at $100,000 was stolen from the mid-rise building’s penthouse unit.
Some questioned whether the mid-rise can be accessed or if it’s too dangerous to enter.
The town declared the building uninhabitable two years ago. Former Colony owner Dr. Murray “Murf” Klauber was denied access to the mid-rise April 19, when he arrived with movers and trucks to retrieve artwork and other personal belongings, according to a police report.
“Police told him (Klauber) use or occupancy of the building has been prohibited until repairs and inspections are completed,” the April 19 report states. “The man (Klauber) said he plans to seek clarification from the town about whether he can retrieve his belongings.”
Even the new owner of Klauber’s former penthouse units doesn’t understand the process.
“You’re not allowed to occupy the midrise by order of the town, but I don’t understand the process even though I own the units,” said Colony Lender principal David Siegal. “It’s one thing for the town to say you can’t occupy, but it’s another thing to say you can’t access the units to retrieve personal property.”
Colony Beach & Tennis Resort Association President Jay Yablon said while unit owners are able to access units by setting up an appointment with Property Manager Larry Stritzel, he was also under the impression that “no one is allowed in the mid-rise anymore.”
But Longboat Key Building Official Wayne Thorne said that’s not so: “Anybody can access their units if they contact the town, even in the mid-rise.”
+ Colony incidents
The following incidents have been recorded over the past year at the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort in Longboat Key police reports:
Aug. 4, 2013
10:05 a.m. — 1600 block of GMD. Vandalism. An unknown person threw a large rock through the window of a Colony Beach & Tennis Resort unit, causing approximately $1,000 worth of damage.
Nov. 17, 2013
5:10 p.m. — 1600 block of GMD. Narcotics Violation. Police discovered marijuana on a man sitting out by the pool of the shuttered Colony Beach & Tennis Resort. He was arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession.
Nov. 26, 2013
12:47 p.m. — 1600 block of GMD. Trespassing. Firefighters responded to a fire alarm at the shuttered Colony Beach & Tennis Resort and found the tower’s front-door glass broken and the front door unlocked. It appears someone reached through the broken door and unlocked it. Police couldn’t locate a suspect.
Jan. 21
8:51 a.m. — 1600 block of GMD. Vandalism. Unknown individuals kicked the door open at a Colony Beach & Tennis Resort unit and broke all the glassware, phones and furniture inside, and also made holes in the walls and doors. Police processed a fire extinguisher found nearby for fingerprints.
June 3
10:39 a.m. — 1600 block of GMD. Property Damage. The property manager at the shuttered Colony Beach & Tennis Resort found that the front door was forced open to a unit. No other units were damaged.