WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Could vandals be targeting Warren county schools?

Could vandals be targeting Warren county schools?

By Roslyn Anderson - bio | email

VICKSBURG , MS (WLBT) –Between this weekend and Wednesday three schools in Warren county have been burglarized and vandalized.

In one instance a fire was started that luckily did not spread.

Before classes began Wednesday morning at Porter's Chapel Academy in Vicksburg teachers found shattered windows and doors that led to evidence of a break in.

Vicksburg police said electronic equipment was missing from the K-12 private school.

"Someone had come into the school and had taken a television and an undisclosed amount of cash," said Sgt. Beverly Prentiss of the Vicksburg Police Department.

Tuesday night at 11:45 a custodian alerted police to a possible burglary at Vicksburg High School.

"He heard a commotion and saw two individuals that were running and once he called police it was determined that they had taken some fire extinguishers and sprayed about the school and had broken a couple of windows," said Prentiss.

Vicksburg police are reviewing surveillance video from Porter's Chapel Academy and Vicksburg High School that they hope will lead them to the thieves.

Sunday night Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said a maintenance shed at Warren Central High School was torched.

The fire was discovered by a facility member who noticed soot on the door of the shed.

The sheriff said the fire burned itself out, but inside a large four wheel utility vehicle sustained minor damage.

A box of plastic materials was also destroyed. 

"There was minimal damage, but we are confident the fire was deliberately set. The State Fire Marshal's Office and Warren county fire investigators are working the case," said Sheriff Pace.

Investigators in all three cases have no motives or suspects at this time.

"Students in the schools if you know who's doing this you need to tell," added Sgt. Prentiss.

No dollar amount for the damages and theft have been released.

Depending on that figure those responsible could be charged with felony malicious mischief.

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