Express & Star

Thousands of pounds of equipment stolen as Wolverhampton school smashed into - again

These CCTV images show the thieves who smashed their way into a city school and stole thousands of pounds worth of laptops and tablets – the second time it has been targeted in a fortnight.

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Do you know this suspect? Raiders have targeted Coppice Performing Arts Academy again

Now Coppice Performing Arts Academy headteacher Janice Fletcher is launching an appeal to catch the crooks and bring to an end the spate of burglaries at schools in Ashmore Park.

Just last week Corpus Christi Catholic Primary Academy was forced to shut after burglars stole laptops and tablets leaving shards of broken glass across the floor.

And in September, 11 Dell laptops were stolen from Oakmeadow Primary School in another night-time raid.

Nearby schools Willenhall E-Act Academy in Furzebank Way and Woodlands Academy of Learning in Bloxwich Road, Willenhall, have also been targeted.

The thieves climbed through broken glass and smashed into a cupboard

The latest burglary at Coppice, which happened in the early hours of Monday morning, has seen laptops and tablets taken and windows and doors smashed in a trail of destruction.

Ms Fletcher said: "They kicked in a double-thickness glass window. We have them on CCTV climbing through broken glass. It looks like they had extra padded clothes. They smashed into a cupboard and took the equipment in locked up security trays.

"I had a call at 6.40am to say what had happened and that staff were already down at the school with police and forensics. Fortunately we didn't have to close, everything was ready and secure in time for the children arriving."

The school has been left without enough equipment for its students as a result of the theft

She added: "We've had two break-ins in the last fortnight. We're also aware that a number of primary schools in Ashmore Park have been targeted recently. Replacing the equipment is going to be costly to the school.

"It was a large amount of IT equipment that was taken, laptops and iPads. This is affecting the children and the community. It has got to stop. I've shared the images because hopefully, by sharing information with as many people as possible, we can identify them and stop them.

"The computers were equipped with all the standard set-up. Luckily none of the children's work will be lost. All of that is on a secure back-up system. It just leaves us in a situation were there isn't enough equipment to go around.

"Everyone including the children and the teachers is very disappointed and annoyed at this sort of mindless vandalism and theft at their school. It is very upsetting for all of us. Our priority is to carry on as normal and try not to let it affect us too badly."

Ms Fletcher insists enough is enough, and is keen for anyone with information to contact police. She said: "We're taking quite a big step at the moment to put these images out there to get these people caught."

"They need to know they will be caught and everything possible will be done to stop this happening again. People can't keep getting away with it.

"The children of WV11 are going to suffer in their schooling if these attacks continue."

Anyone with information about the raids should call police on 101.

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