Whanganui police have charged two men with stealing $7000 worth of maintenance equipment from Aranui Primary School in Castlecliff and are seeking a third.
The three are alleged to have broken into the school on Sunday and stolen a ride-on lawnmower and other equipment.
The two arrested were a gang member and an associate, aged 22 and 23. They have already appeared in the Whanganui District Court.
Police searched several Wanganui addresses and recovered the ride-on mower. A green IC lawnmower, a white and orange Stihl weed-eater, a yellow Karcher water blaster and three red petrol containers have yet to be recovered.
"This sort of heartless offending strikes at the very core of a community and affects everyone in the neighbourhood, especially the children in this case," Senior Sergeant Shayne Wainhouse said.