Thieves target schools during week of break-ins

Thousands of pounds worth of equipment taken

Detectives are vowing to hunt down brazen burglars who have now hit seven schools in little more than a week.

In what appears to be a highlyorchestrated crime spree, equipment worth thousands of pounds has been stolen in night-time raids.

The thieves are targeting outbuildings and storage containers and have escaped with costly gardening equipment, as well as £2,000 worth of sweets from one primary school.

Among the victims are Archbishops School in Canterbury, Spires Academy in Sturry and Herne Bay High School.

Police are now probing nine separate break-ins carried out between March 1 and March 9, and are urging school staff to be extra vigilant.

Sgt Lee Thompson, investigat- ing, said: “The offenders would have needed vehicles to transport the items so we ask anyone who may have seen suspicious vehicles on or near school grounds to contact us.”

All the break-ins are reported to have been carried out outside

of school hours – most likely during the night.

Sgt Thompson said: “Investigations into all the burglaries and attempted burglaries are ongoing and we are looking at both forensic and CCTV opportunities.

“Although we always keep an

open mind, based on the offence type and the short time span we are not ruling out that these offences are linked.”

Head teachers and staff across the district were being warned to be on the lookout for suspicious activity, he said.

“We have visited schools across the Canterbury district to warn them about the burglaries and give crime prevention advice,” he added.

“Advice has also been given on security marking property so we can reunite any recovered stolen property with its rightful owners.

“I would like to reassure schools we take all burglaries, including burglaries from outbuildings, extremely seriously and we are working hard to bring the offenders to justice.”

Anyone with information should call police on 01843 222289, quoting reference ZY/7541/16.