A gang which ransacked a school got away with thousands of pounds in cash and around 50 iPads, it has emerged.

It is also believed the gang, which were caught on CCTV breaking into St John’s School, in Bury Lane, Eppng, last night, had insider knowledge of where valuables were stored as specific parts of the site were targeted.

It has also emerged that the school’s alarm went off yesterday evening hours before the raid, but security staff who visited the site found no evidence of suspicious activity.

Headteacher George Yerosimou said: “It’s devastating. I’m still in a state of shock but I’ve had to handle the situation.

“They’ve targeted specific areas and they have intelligence.”

Around 29 doors were damaged as the gang ransacked the school.

Mr Yerosimou added: “We believe there were three people initially from what we have seen on the CCTV footage and then another two people who came back later.

“There was no sign of a car having been on site so we believe they may have accessed the site through the pedestrian gate on Lower Bury Lane.

"We found an alarm box had been taken off after the initial visit by the security firm and the wires were disconnected."

The break-in was reported to police at around 6am this morning when caretakers first noticed the damage.

Mt Yerosimou then called police a further two times, at 7am and 9am, before a police constable arrived at around 10am.
Mr Yerosimou said: “I was surprised that after four hours there was still no police presence her.”

Local second hand electrical retailers have been contacted with the serial numbers of the stolen ipads in an attempt to locate the stolen equipment.

The tablets also have a device in them which enables the unit to be tracked as soon as it is turned on.

All staff are working and will begin the clean up as soon as the insurance company have carried out their survey of the premises.

Families were contacted shortly after 7am this morning to inform them the school was closed today but the headteacher hopes to reopen the building tomorrow.

See footage in Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxe4NzF4KI4&feature=c4-overview&list=UUwwTcn0VUPxUPzPNz0BGywg