Claremont High School Principal Brett O’Connor sent an alert to parents by email Wednesday morning regarding a recent theft incident at the school.

“Last evening at 7:02 p.m. CHS Administration discovered someone had broken into the coaches’ office of the boys’ locker room,” Mr. O’Connor related.

An assistant principal immediately notified the Claremont Police Department, he said.

While investigating, school authorities discovered the suspect—an African American male, approximately five feet, 10 inches tall, bald, and possibly in his early-40s—had been loitering in the back of the theatre rifling through property.

As Mr. O’Connor explained, the school’s ComedySportz team was practicing, but students and staff thought the suspect was a parent or substitute custodian. The suspect didn’t interact with students or staff but administrators later discovered a window had been smashed at the ASB office, which is located just east of the theater.

CHS administration and Claremont police identified the suspect on the school’s video surveillance system.

On Wednesday morning, CHS staff learned from a high school employee the same suspect was found walking into coaches’ offices at  the Pomona College pool at 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday night. Credit cards were stolen in that robbery.

Mr. O’Connor said he has no reason to believe this individual is a threat to students or staff.

“During this time of year, we have many night athletic events on campus as well as other student and parent activities,”?Mr. O’Connor cautioned. “Please be sure to keep an eye on your belongings at all times. The school will also reinforce this information with students.”

—Kathryn Dunn

editor@claremont-courier.com