Kilberry Valley Primary School students Zoe, front, Connor and Sabrina were heartbroken when they discovered their class’s computers had been stolen. Picture: Stewart Chambers.
By Sarah Schwager
CRANBOURNE teachers are fed up with replacing stolen computers following a spate of burglaries at local primary schools.
Schools in Cranbourne and Hampton Park have been targeted almost on a weekly basis, with four local schools reporting one or multiple thefts in the last two months.
In the latest theft last Thursday, Hampton Park’s Kilberry Valley Primary School was broken into and three computers and a printer stolen.
Kilberry Valley Primary School principal Jan White said she and other staff were getting sick of the lack of respect for schools and schoolchildren.
“It is disheartening that there is an element of the community that would stoop so low as to take things from kids,” Ms White said.
“There is no respect for education and what it means to be children.”
She said the money spent replacing computers took away from other resources for the students.
“We are having to go into other parts of the budget to replace equipment. We don’t want the kids to miss out,” she said.
Three computer monitors and hard drives as well as a printer were taken from the school about 7pm last Thursday, 27 July after thieves broke in through a window on a portable classroom.
Senior Sergeant Bernie Kaminski from Cranbourne CIU said thieves tended to target portable classrooms as they were not part of the main school and were more isolated.
On 21 July, Courtenay Gardens Primary School was broken into for the seventh time in three months.
Eight computer monitors were stolen from the Cranbourne school after thieves kicked in a door.
They also damaged several other computers in their attempt to remove them.
Nicole Bottriel, Courtenay Gardens Primary School’s assistant principal said it was disappointing that these people were taking away from the children’s resources and education.
“The tragic part of all this is that there are limited funds as it is,” Ms Bottriel said.
“Those funds are continually wasted on replacing windows and computers instead of on new and exciting things for the kids.”
Cranbourne Park Primary School and Cranbourne Primary School have also had computers stolen recently.
On 23 June, thieves stole a computer and ransacked filing cabinets at Cranbourne Park Primary School.
Two computers were stolen from Cranbourne Primary School on 30 June.
Cranbourne Primary School principal Gary Rolfe said the thefts were unfortunate.
“It is so disappointing and even devastating for the whole school,” Mr Rolfe said.
“It will seriously impact on the kids’ learning.”
A Department of Education and Training spokeswoman said the department was aware that schools had been targeted.
She said the department was assisting and cooperating with the police to apprehend the people responsible.
Police urged people to report any suspicious activity.
Anyone with information can contact Cranbourne CIU on 5995 4577 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
