Burglars ruin school's day - again

EVIDENCE: Scene of a crime officer Constable Barry Murray searching for fingerprints in one of the Kaitaia Intermediate School classrooms that were broken into last week.

Kaitaia Intermediate School has suffered at the hands of vandals and burglars many times, but that did not make another intrusion on Wednesday night any easier to handle.

Deputy principal Allanah Quinn said two classrooms had been entered, a brick taken from the school grounds having been used to smash holes in the glass doors, and an unsuccessful attempt was made to get into a third, and the administration area. Other windows were also broken.

It wasn't clear if anything had been taken, but glass was left strewn throughout both rooms, and teaching materials had been scattered around. The brick was propelled with such force that pieces were found on the far side of both rooms.

Ms Quinn suspected that the thieves had been looking for money, but they had been wasting their time.

"We don't keep money here, in the office or in the classrooms," she said. "What is there for anyone to take? Some whiteboard markers?

"All they've done is make a mess. There's glass everywhere, and they've rummaged through both rooms. Everything is upside down."

The pupils in those two classes had been moved into the library until the police had completed their scene examination and the mess had been cleaned up.

It was possible, Ms Quinn added, that the intruders had been interrupted by one of the town's security officers.

She was hopeful that the offenders would be identified.

Scene of crime officer Constable Barry Murray was at the school on Thursday morning, looking for evidence, while one of the teachers said the the school was bursting with Sherlock Holmes wannabes.

"The kids are on to it, and I wouldn't be surprised if they come up with something," she added.

Witnesses had reported seeing suspicious people in the area, and fingers were crossed that security cameras across the road had captured something.

Anyone who has any information is urged to contact the Kaitaia police on (09) 408-6500, or, anonymously, Crimestoppers on 0800 555-111.