Police seek suspect after school fire

Press, 24 April 1984, Page 2

Police seek suspect after school fire

PA Auckland An Auckland primary school caretaker scared off a man breaking into a classroom only an hour before an arson attack caused $lOO,OOO damage. Fire destroyed a classroom, part of the sick bay, and damaged an adjoining room at Beachhaven Primary School late on Saturday afternoon. Senior-Sergeant Ron Davis of the Takapuna police said he believed that the two incidents were linked. The school’s caretaker, who lives nearby, was patrolling the grounds when he saw a man aged 20 to 25 throw something through the classroom window. “We believe he had been hanging around the grounds for some time,” Mr Davis said. “He disappeared so quickly we think he lives locally and hope to pick up something by inquiries round the neighbourhood.” The cause of the fire, which took six fire engines about 30 minutes to control has not been determined. The school’s acting principal, Mrs Gina Holland, said the school had a campaign to promote pride among students, and the community often used the buildings at the week-end.

“We’ve been very clear of vandalism until now,” she said. “I’m sure none of our kids were involved, but what can you do to stop things like this?” Mrs Holland said the teacher whose classroom was destroyed lost more than 12 years of records and teaching resources in the fire. Staff yesterday were moving furniture into an empty room and clearing up some of the debris. The Auckland Education Board’s building supervisor has estimated the damage at $lOO,OOO. In a separate arson attack, a classroom was destroyed at Stutton Park School, Mangere, late on Sunday afternoon. Detectives investigating the incident believed papers inside the room had been set alight. The amount of damage is not yet known. This month arson caused about $500,000 worth of damage at Te Atatu Intermediate School, when fire destroyed a classroom and lavatory block. Education officials have admitted there is a limit to what they can do to prevent arson and vandalism, which continues to increase despite patrols, burglar alarms and campaigns in several communities.