Crime

DENVER (CBS4) ― A pattern burglar is suspected of pulling a home invasion robbery near the University of Denver campus early Thursday morning, the 14th or 15th such crime in the last nine months according to DU's director of campus security.

"Yes, there's a strong possibility it's the same individual," said Don Enloe, DU's top security official.

CBS4 has learned that early Thursday morning the bandit broke into a duplex on the 2400 block of South High Street. He confronted a female DU student who had been asleep, shining a flashlight in her eyes, telling her he had a gun then demanding she roll onto her stomach and cover her head with a pillow. The man then stole property from the woman's room and the rest of the house.

"Everyone's shaken up by it," said Katy Merrion, a 22-year-old DU graduate who lives on the same block. "I was definitely scared last night and shaken up by it. I'm not sure what to expect."

The incident is part of a pattern of home invasions and burglaries near the DU campus since the start of the year. In several of them, the suspect has broken into the homes of female DU students, shined a flashlight in their eyes, claimed he had a gun then robbed the house after forcing the female victims to cover their heads with a pillow.

Scott Moss, who lives on the 2400 block of South High Street, said the early morning incident across the street prompted him to activate his burglar alarm system.

"It's such a pattern," said Moss. "And all women."

Sonny Jackson, a Denver police spokesman, said the Thursday home invasion was "possibly part of a pattern. It could be the same person. Its' the same M.O. I'm comfortable saying that."

Jackson declined to identify any suspects in the series of break-ins.

CBS4 obtained court documents indicating police investigators have been focusing on a 37-year-old former DU worker. Those documents indicate police first became interested in the man after noticing he looked similar to a composite sketch of the break-in suspect.

Contacted by phone on Friday, the man confirmed police have interviewed him twice in person and at least two other times by phone. He also said investigators asked him to take a polygraph test and submit to DNA testing. He refused. The man has a criminal record and acknowledges spending time regularly in the DU area visiting friends. CBS4 is not identifying him since he has not been arrested or charged and police are not calling him a suspect.

"I think they're trying to pin this on me," the man told CBS4 Friday afternoon. "I didn't do it. I haven't done any of these things at all. I want this to end."

He said investigators told him they had an eyewitness who saw him in the area around the time of one of the break-ins. He also said Denver police investigators have "harassed" his sister and brother trying to get them to implicate him in the break-ins.

"I've never burglarized anybody's house," the man reiterated.

While Denver police declined to talk about their interest in the man, Enloe said "I have heard his name. I know back in the spring he was first on the radar as a 'person of interest.'"

Enloe said he wasn't sure where the man currently fits in the investigation and he believes Denver police investigators are "looking at several individuals."

As they continue their investigation, residents near the University of Denver say they are jittery, on edge, and anxious for police to make an arrest.

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