Nanaimo RCMP are investigating after three local elementary schools were broken into this week.
In the early morning hours of Monday, February 14th, Coal Tyee, Forest Park and Departure Bay Elementary were all broken into.
Alarms at all locations were activated between 2:30 a.m. and 4 a.m., but police were only called to attend the break-in at Coal Tyee Elementary school.
Upon arrival, officers observed an unknown person running away from the school carrying a backpack.
Eventually, the suspect dropped the backpack, and officers found there were a number of laptops inside.
RCMP Police Dog Services were called and Luthor and his handler found two more laptops along the track he established.
The track eventually stopped on Sun Valley Drive where investigators discovered an exterior door had been pried open.
Two Chrome Books, two silver laptops, two projectors and two portable bluetooth speakers are still missing from the school.
Forest Park Elementary also reported an overnight break-in. An exterior door was found pried open however nothing appears to have been taken from the school.
Departure Bay Elementary reported alarms at approximately 3:30 a.m. It is unknown how entry was made.
The next morning, staff noted two portable radios were missing, one with a sticker of “Stella” on the back, the other with a sticker of “Natasha”.
In addition, three HP EliteBook laptops were also taken.
An alarm was also activated at Cilaire Elementary, however it is unknown if entry was made.
The school is currently boarded up while it undergoes seismic upgrades.
“These incidents are most likely related and carried out by the same people with access to a vehicle,” said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
If you heard or saw anything that may be considered suspicious between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. at any of these schools, you are asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
