KIDS’ DINNER MONEY STOLEN IN BURGLARY

Heartless thieves take school cash

HEARTLESS thieves have stolen kids’ dinner money in an overnight robbery at a primary school.

Filing cabinets were raided and cash boxes containing sponsorship money, milk money and petty cash were also taken in the overnight burglary at Jonesborough Primary School in Co Armagh.

Principal Donal Keenan told the Mirror he doesn’t know how it will be replaced.

He said three men with face coverings appeared on surveillance video between Sunday midnight and 2am yesterday.

Mr Keenan added: “It looks as if they had come to the school and when the alarm went off they waited to see if there was a response and then made their way back in.

“Our first sighting of the men on the surveillance camera was about 12 and there was activity until about 2am.

“We believe they climbed the perimeter wall and our fence.

“They had a couple of crowbars and gloves. Two were wearing balaclavas and one seemed to have a stocking or net over their face.

“We could make out they were not teenagers – they were three grown men They seemed to know what they were doing.”

Mr Keenan said once inside the school the trio “basically jemmied open filing cabinets, broke the locks and found four cash boxes which contained a sum of money”.

He added: “We had a sponsored event last week and there was still some of that money here. Most of it had been lodged thank God.” The principal said funds had been raised for Sports For Schools, which arrange athletes visits to inspire the children and also provide sports equipment.

Chief sportivater for the charity Michael Ledzion said: “When something like this happens it’s just wrong.

“This was the kids’ money and was being raised for sports equipment for the school. I’m so sad that this has happened.” The PSNI asked anyone with information to contact 101 quoting reference 265 of 12/03/18.