Rude graffiti left on Millner Primary School walls after break-in
Millner Primary School has been the latest target of a school break-in, with glass smashed and rude graffiti left on the walls on the first day of winter break. WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES.
Education
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A break-in at Millner Primary School has left doors smashed and several walls covered in rude graffiti in a sour start to the school holidays.
Northern Territory Police said the break-in was discovered early Saturday morning, and investigators are working to determine the extent of the damage.
“There’s been some damage to some doors and some graffiti, but at this stage we don’t know if anything gets stolen that’s still being assessed so we’re putting out a call for any information, if anybody saw anything unusual in and around the area,” Northern Watch Commander David Allan said.
Sergeant Allan said graffiti had been found “throughout” the school.
A Department of Education spokeswoman confirmed the incident but said it was not expected to cause any disruption.
“There is damage to the administration area and front corridor of the school, but no damage to classrooms,” she said.
“There has been no impact to the students or staff since it is school holidays until 18 July 2023.”
“Police are investigating the incident.”
It comes after a break-in at nearby Nightcliff Primary School forced classes to be cancelled earlier this week.
Three youths identified in Darwin primary school break-in
Police have identified three youths alleged to be involved in a break-in that forced a large number of Nightcliff Primary School students to miss a day of school earlier this week.
Transition and preschool students were told not to come to school on Wednesday after an unknown group of burglars trashed up to seven classrooms on Tuesday night.
Police understand the break-in to have occurred between 7pm and 11pm with five transition and two preschool classrooms extensively damaged as a result.
“Northern Territory Police are continuing to investigate an unlawful entry at a school in Nightcliff earlier this week,” a police spokesman said.
“Detectives from Strike force Trident have been investigating, with three youths identified.
“Investigations remain ongoing.”
An Education Department spokeswoman said the classrooms had since been cleaned, allowing students to return to school on Thursday.
“The Department of Education can confirm all of the classrooms have been cleaned and are ready for students to return to school today,” she said.
“The department would like to thank staff, students and families for their continued support for the school during this time.”
A text was sent out just before 8.30am on Wednesday alerting parents to the break-in.
The administration building was impacted, with staff relocated to the library.
“This is extremely disappointing for the students, staff and families of the school,” the education department spokeswoman said on Wednesday.
“Where possible families have collected preschool and transition students.
“Students who are unable to be collected are being provided learning at school.
“Police are on site and investigating the incident.”
In an email to parents later that day, Nightcliff Primary School principal Jo Glennon said the damaged classrooms would remain closed until police investigations and repairs were completed.
Ms Glennon said the after school care room was not damaged and would open at 2.30pm as usual.
A spokesman for NT Police confirmed officers had received a report about 7.30am of an unlawful entry at the school on Cunjevoi Crescent.
Investigators remain at the scene.
Nightcliff Primary School is a public school with about 500 primary school students and 70 part-time preschool students.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Acting Deputy Commissioner Michael White said while he was “not across” the incident, break-ins “certainly impacts on the schools themselves”.
“The damage that is caused impacts on young people being able to go to school and do what they should be doing,” he said.
“We’re working very closely with the schools around safety and security.
“We’re doing everything we can to identify the people and put the right measures in place to deal with it.”
Katherine MLA and Opposition education spokeswoman Jo Hersey said the incident had come after a large knife was found in a Katherine school following earlier break-ins at St Joseph’s Catholic College and the Katherine East Childcare Centre this week.
“We know that schools are getting broken into, the safety of students and staff is paramount,” she said.
Ms Hersey said she wanted to see schoolyard crime issues acknowledged by the NT government but refused to say how the Country Liberal Party would address the same issue.
“We’ll just have to wait and see,” she said.
Mr White was also unable to confirm the Katherine incidents.
Education Minister Eva Lawler said crime in any area was unacceptable and she was appalled by the incident.
But Ms Lawler said NT schools were safe and supportive environments for schools and staff.
“We are committed to tackling crime and tackling the sources of crime at the same time – through more police, more consequences and more investment in initiatives that help prevent crime,” she said.
“Let’s not forget it was the CLP who removed school based constables from schools, we are the government who reinstated them.”
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