Burglaries reported at 4 Costa Mesa schools during winter break
Costa Mesa police are increasing patrols around local schools after four campuses were burglarized in the past two weeks while students and employees are off for winter break, authorities said Thursday.
Just before 11 p.m. Wednesday, a school cleaning crew interrupted a man as he was attempting to burglarize the Coastline Regional Occupational Program campus at 100 Presidio Square. The man dropped the laptop he had taken from one of the offices and fled before police arrived, said Sgt. Mike Manson.
Burglaries also were reported at Costa Mesa High School, 2650 Fairview Road, on Monday and Tuesday. At 9 a.m. Monday, an employee called police to report that the window to the cafeteria area had been pried open and an unknown amount of money had been stolen.
On Tuesday, it was discovered that someone had pried open the door to the gym area of Costa Mesa High, possibly to gain access to classrooms. It is unclear what might have been taken and when that break-in occurred, Manson said.
Another burglary was reported at Early College High School, 2990 Mesa Verde Drive East, Tuesday morning after it was discovered that someone had broken into the computer lab and made off with electronics.
Police recovered an iPad, computer equipment and a laptop that had been abandoned nearby, Manson said.
On Dec. 24 at approximately 1 p.m. firefighters responded to a fire alarm that had been activated at TeWinkle Middle School, at 3224 California St. However, instead of finding a fire, they saw that the teacher’s lounge had been ransacked.
Police believe the intruder pried plywood that had been fastened over windows at the school after previous burglaries and used a saw-type tool to cut into drywall to gain access into the building. The drywall dust set off the fire alarm and the intruder or intruders fled before authorities arrived, according to Lt. Greg Scott.
It is unclear what might have been stolen from the school.
Police have no suspects and it is unclear if the burglaries are related.
Authorities are asking the public to call police to report any suspicious activity around the schools.
