Duncan Bonney Arrested.jpg

Duncan Bonney, 22, is charged with 18 counts of burglary after authorities say he stole a master dorm key.

(Birmingham police and BSCsports.net)

A Birmingham-Southern College swimming standout is charged with more than a dozen burglaries, accused of breaking into the on-campus dorm rooms of his classmates while they were away on Spring Break.

Duncan Bonney, 22, is charged with 18 counts of third-degree burglary, said Birmingham police spokesman Lt. Sean Edwards. A native of Cape Town, South Africa, the college junior was arrested Monday by Birmingham detectives. He remains in the Jefferson County Jail today with bond set at $180,000 bond.

Campus police contacted Birmingham police after the spate of break-ins between March 13 and March 22, Edwards said. Bonney actually claimed to be one of the victims, Edwards said, and staged his dorm room to appear to have been burglarized.

Campus detectives said they didn't buy Bonney's story of being a victim. "Something looked shady,'' Edwards said.

The investigation showed Bonney stole a master key to the dorms and unlawfully entered 18 rooms. Police say he stole textbooks, high-end calculators, watches and electronics. He was selling the textbooks on websites that buy back the class material, Edwards said. He was also selling the electronics - mostly PlayStation and X-box - on EBay. He didn't have time, police said, to sell the expensive calculators.

Bonney had an outstanding swimming season last year, winning seven individual Southern Athletic Association titles and being named SAA Male Swimmer of the Year for the second straight season. In 2013, he won BSC's Newcomer and Swimmer of the Year awards.

"Duncan is a good young man and has cooperated fully with the investigating detective," said Birmingham attorney Chris Daniel. "His family in South Africa has expressed their complete support and we are working through the legal process together."

BSC's president, Gen. Charles C. Krulak, released this statement to AL.com: "The entire campus community is saddened by this incident. Birmingham Southern College has long operated under an honor code and in this instance the honor code was violated. When the perpetrator was identified, he was dismissed and the campus turned him over to the appropriate authorities."