A HEADTEACHER has spoken of her outrage after her school was targeted by thieves who stole computers valued at £32,000.

Burglars broke into Thomas Willingale School in The Broadway, Loughton, and stole 32 laptops just hours after pupils and staff had broken up for half-term.

Essex Police say a rear door was forced open during the raid, before 16 Tulip and 16 NEC laptops were taken.

Headteacher Marion Smith said: “These were paid for by funds raised by parents and the community.

“People will steal things from children, it’s just the lowest of the low.

“We’ll get the money back from our insurers but the cost of the insurance will go up so we’re paying for it in the long-run, and that’s in addition to the cost of repairing the doors that were forced open.

“Some people were seen hanging around earlier that night and the night before, who were challenged by teachers.

“We’ve already tightened security and we’re putting in more measures this week.

“They got into the school grounds by lifting the six foot gates off their hinges and driving straight in, so we’ve replaced them with gates that don’t lift off.

“All the laptops are marked with the school’s name, so we want people to be vigilant if they see anyone trying to sell them.”

Police were called just before 8pm and told that the school's gates were open. By the time they arrived they had reports that the burglar alarm had been set off.

Kim Clarke, of Colebrook Lane in Loughton, has two children at the school.

Mrs Clarke, 41, said: “My daughter Shannon is in Year 4 and she goes down to the computer room for lessons at least once or twice a week, she thoroughly enjoys it.

“It’s awful that these people did this. Who steals from a primary school?”

The burglary took place between 7pm and 8pm on Friday, February 18.

PC Martin Carroll said: “Two men were seen hanging around the school earlier in the day, I ask anyone who may have seen them or were in the area at the time of the theft to contact me.”

Anyone with information should call PC Carroll at Loughton police station on 0300 333 4444, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.