BOULDER, Colo. — The Boulder Community Hospital is already undergoing some substantial demolition. But someone decided to take that into their own hands over the weekend, illegally getting behind the wheel of a bulldozer and driving it into a historic cottage on the property.
Denver7 found that bulldozer with a partially broken windshield on-site. It was parked not far from the cottage, which had significant damage to the front of it.
“Something that big gets moving, the possibility for damage gets significantly higher,” Dean Cunningham of the Boulder Police Department said.
The cottage that was damaged was used to house long-term patients of The Boulder Colorado Sanitarium, which operated from the late 1800s through the 1950s, according to the Boulder Public Library.
“That cottage was designated to be moved, and it hadn’t been done yet, so the damage done to that was unexpected,” Cunningham said.
The damage was so severe that the cottage may have to be entirely demolished, according to police, who added that the decision had not been made yet.
“It’s very sad, it really is because they might not be able to save it now,” passerby Emily Dermer said.
Boulder Police are still looking for possible suspects, and are asking for help from the public. Anyone who knows anything about the bulldozer bandit should call them at 303-441-3333.