Thieves entered two schools in Oconee County during the summer break and stole more than $16,000 worth of mostly computer equipment, according to the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office.
The thefts occurred at Oconee County High School in Watkinsville and Malcom Bridge Middle School in Bogart, where both schools had construction projects underway, authorities said.
“We are not trying to say anyone in particular did it, but (construction) certainly brought in a lot more foot traffic into the schools,” Oconee County School Superintendent Jason Branch said Wednesday.
The largest theft occurred at Malcom Bridge, where school officials reported Monday that thieves stole 19 Apple iPads, two Canon video cameras, projectors and other electronic equipment. The thefts occurred between May 20 and July 29, deputies said.
At Oconee high, thieves made off with computers sometime between June 1 and Aug. 4, deputies said.
“As our staff came back on and began preparing for school, as you do each year, and getting the equipment ready they realized someone had unfortunately decided to steal from kids,” Branch said.
The iPads at Malcom Bridge “were actually locked in closets so they were secured, but someone got in,” he said.
All the equipment will be replaced, Branch said.
Construction is also underway at Oconee County Middle School, but Branch said no reports of similar thefts have been reported there.
Because no one knows when the property was stolen, this will hamper the investigation, according the Oconee sheriff’s Chief Deputy Lee Weems.
There were no apparent signs of a forced entry at either school, according to Weems.
If deputies can find where the stolen property has been pawned and passed to others, investigators may have a chance at identifying the thieves, according to Weems.
“Hopefully, the individuals who did this will be held accountable,” Branch said.
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