Homer among stolen items

Common thieves with an interest in the ancient works of Homer, Virgil and Juvenal are rare, so Freyberg High School staff were surprised to see classical studies books among the items stolen in a recent series of burglaries.

Associate Principal Peter Brooks said there had been four burglaries at the school in the past two weeks.

"It's very frustrating," Mr Brooks said.

"Goodness knows what they want those [classical studies books] for."

A television, video player and the classics books were stolen on August 30 or 31.

Three projectors, used for seminars and presentations, were taken on September 6 and 7.

Police took blood samples from one of the six smashed windows the thieves used to enter classrooms.

The cost of repairing all the acts of vandalism at the school this year totalled around $5000.

Mr Brooks said staff members were keeping an eye on the school after hours.

"Caretakers are coming in at all hours with torches but you can only do so much. These people are wandering through the school after it's closed."

Roslyn School was also hit by thieves on the nights of September 8 and 9.

Three guitars and an amplifier were taken and an unsuccessful attempt was made to rip a projector from a wall.

Principal Joanne How said the loss of equipment hurt the children the most.

"People who target schools are . . . not nice. Two of the guitars were children's guitars, so taking it from kids isn't good."

The windows smashed during the burglary added to the $1400 worth of vandalism already reported at Roslyn School this year.

Police sergeant Mike Yates said a juvenile had been arrested in connection to the burglaries.

Further arrests would follow, he said.

Anyone with information about the burglaries can contact Sergeant Mike Yates at the Palmerston North police station on 351 3600.

- © Fairfax NZ News