Gladstone Park Secondary College Year 12 students lose textbooks, notes when lockers broken into

YEAR 12 students at a school in Melbourne’s north whose books, notes and calculators were stolen from lockers have been told they will have to foot the bill for replacements.

The man police want to speak to over the locker breakins.

GLADSTONE Park Secondary College Year 12 students are devastated after textbooks, scientific calculators, class notes and other objects were stolen from their lockers.

The man was carrying a green backpack.

Hume detectives are appealing for witnesses following the thefts at the Taylors Rd school in the early hours of March 1.

A man, with a covered face, allegedly broke into about 40 lockers outside a school building and also stole a student’s hearing aid valued at $2000.

Several college students and parents, who asked not to be named, told the Leader the lockers had been broken into multiple times before, most recently in November.

One student said many of her classmates had lost “hours and hours of notes” they had prepared for VCE school assessed coursework.

“Many students are distressed as they are unable to repurchase books, and even those that can, are unable to replace notes that they spent weeks preparing,” the student said.

She said families had been told the school was “unlikely” to provide compensation for stolen items, although it would be considered if they were experiencing financial difficulties.

She also said students were told the fact that some of them were using non-school locks on their lockers meant the college was not “entirely at fault”.

But the student said these alternative locks were initially promoted and sold by the school.

College principal Lynne Gutterson said lockers with “less substantial padlocks” appeared to have been targeted.

“Just as before this break-in, heavy duty locks are available through the school and are recommended,” she said.

Ms Gutterson said since the break-in, the school had “beefed up” its alarm system and was working with the police to try and recover some of the stolen property.

“We are helping students affected by the theft by providing access to text books and calculators through our library,” she said.

“We’ll also help students who have lost any notes or coursework which counts towards a qualification to address this issue with the Department and the VCAA (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority) so they are not unfairly penalised.”

Police said the man who broke into the school was wearing a grey and orange long-sleeved top, dark-coloured shorts and a green backpack at the time of the offence.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.