Thieves hit Wilkie twice

While the school’s watchman was out sick, thieves pounced on the Wilkie Cumberbatch Primary School – twice in one week.

The culprits first hit the Lascelles Terrace, Pine, St Michael school between Tuesday and Thursday morning.

When the Weekend Nation visited the school yesterday afternoon, it was closed early and parents were collecting their children while teaching staff were supervising the remaining students.

General secretary of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT), Herbert Gittens, confirmed the incidents.

“The school contacted both the police and the ministry and I’m aware the children were outside awaiting the investigations and it seems at some point that officials from the ministry visited and a decision was made to close the school,” he said.

When asked about a night guard, Gittens said: “My understanding is that there is, but apparently he was ill the last couple days, so he was not on the compound.”

In a release police public relations officer Acting Inspector Rodney Inniss said police were still carrying out investigations.

“It was reported to the police that sometime between the mentioned dates an unknown culprit or culprits entered a number of areas on the school’s premises and removed a number of items belonging to the school,” the release stated.

According to close sources, the thieves entered the principal’s office and made off with two cans and an electric kettle. School keys were found on the pasture.

The principal declined to comment.

A few parents did not want to give their names but said they were aware of the theft when they dropped off their children but did not anticipate the closure. ( TG)

The Wilkie Cumberbatch Primary School was broken into twice this week.

A guardian collecting Wilkie Cumberbatch students yesterday.

(Pictures by Lennox Devonish.)