Thieves hit St. Croix Central High School over the weekend, dealing the school a "crippling" blow by stealing computers, televisions, laptops, band equipment and other items, according to a statement from the Department of Education. It was one of two school break-ins that took place over the weekend.
"The loss of this equipment is crippling," said Central Principal Janasee Sinclair. "It keeps us from doing what we’re supposed to do for our students, and we are asking for anyone in the community with information about this to come forward as soon as possible."
Students were dismissed at 11 a.m. Monday so that school officials and faculty, along with police and other emergency responders, could begin an investigation into the burglary.
St. Croix District Superintendent Gary Molloy was also at the campus, working with Central High staff and police in filing a report, assessing damage, taking an inventory of the missing items and helping to review surveillance footage that has been gathered from school cameras.
Late Monday afternoon, V.I. Police Department public information officer Melody Rames said no one had been taken into custody and officers are continuing to investigate.
Molloy is also working with police on an investigation into a weekend burglary at Claude O. Markoe Elementary School. No information on that incident was available Monday.
Molloy commended Central High’s monitors, who he said were instrumental in helping officers identify possible suspects. Meanwhile, Molloy and Sinclair asked the public to provide any information they might have about the burglary to the proper authorities.
