Schools hit by spate of suspicious thefts, fires

The fire at Churchill Park School destroyed an entire block. Photo / File

East Auckland residents are feeling rattled after a spate of break-ins and fires at local primary schools.

At least three schools in Glendowie and St Heliers have been hit.

This month a suspicious fire at Churchill Park School destroyed an entire block, including the library and teachers' resource room. The November 15 blaze happened about 3am and followed the theft of high-tech equipment from the school.

Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said the school's security alarm had been activated on the Saturday at 8.14pm before the fire early on the Tuesday. A laptop and a projector were stolen from the school, but it's unclear which day they were taken, she said.

The school's caretaker had noticed the day before the blaze that a classroom had been entered, and attempts had been made to break into three other classrooms.

Hegarty said that Glen Innes police wanted to hear from anyone who had seen any suspicious goings-on at the school.

"Some witnesses are yet to be spoken to. Others have been interviewed."

A suspicious fire that ripped through classrooms, an art room and resource room at Glendowie Primary in January was also still an open case.

Churchill Park principal Liz Gunn said a lot of people had wondered whether the two fires were linked, although Hegarty said there was no evidence to confirm this.

Police are also investigating a break-in at St Ignatius School in neighbouring St Heliers, in which a school office computer was taken.