Power tools stolen from Ōropi School shed over holidays

Ōropi School principal Andrew King is 'gutted' by the thefts. Photo / John Borren

The principal of a rural Bay of Plenty primary school is “gutted” after thieves broke into a shed and stole thousands of dollars-worth of fundraised power tools used for “essential” student learning.

“It is just a pain,” Ōropi School principal Andrew King said of the break-in discovered on New Year’s Day.

“Everything was securely put away and locked, so they’ve undone all the locks,” he said.

Four power drills with charges, an electrical orbital sander, a multi-tool, electric drills, wood burners and other power tools were taken during the break-in.

The shed was in an out-of-the-way location, and King believed it was intentionally targeted by people who knew it was there.

The Year 1-8 school, which has just a few hundred students and can trace its history back to 1899, is located on the outskirts of Tauranga.

He said students used the tools to build school seats, bird boxes, and rat traps used around the school.

King said he was “gutted” by the thefts.

“They are just stealing from the students,” he said.

All funds used to purchase the tools and shed were fundraised for by the school’s Parent-Teacher Association, separate from the school budget.

Ōropi School. Photo / Google Maps

“The tools and shed cost about $20,000,” he said.

“It took us a couple of years to get everything we need for the shed.”

If replacements could not be found, students looking to work on projects will have to wait, King said.

“Not every student has the same level of academic achievement, so providing them tools to improve their practical knowledge is essential.”

The theft left a nasty taste in King’s mouth, but he said he was buoyed by the response and support offered by the community after he posted about the incident on the school’s Facebook page.

“Our senior kids are now unable to do all the cool project-based learning they have been doing, which relied on all the tools that have been stolen,” he wrote.

King told SunLive the school had been vacant and the school’s gardener noticed on January 1 that the shed had been opened.

King believed the tools would now be sold and retrieving them would be impossible.

“We will have to check to see if we recorded all the serial numbers.”

He said a construction project at the school is scheduled for next week, and the site will have plenty of security moving forward.

A complete account of everything that was taken still needed to be done, said King, and a report would be made to the police in the next few days.

Once the police report was made, the school will need to look at the insurance policy, and the excess will determine whether a claim will be made, or a new fundraising campaign will be required.