A THIEF broke into a secondary school changing rooms in broad daylight before making off with bundles of blazers and a school bag.

The suspect targeted Roding Valley High School, in Alderton Hill, Loughton, this morning while pupils were out at a PE lesson.

He kicked in a panel in the changing rooms before crawling in and making off with a number of possessions.

Headteacher Geoff Mangan said: “We called the police straight away and they arrived quickly. We have looked at CCTV at the school and the tube station and we have certainly got a picture of the person. It's a single youth, I don't recognise him.

“The changing rooms are completely locked down but this person has kicked through a panel to get in, and then crawled through .

“We've watched him on the CCTV come on to the site and leave. He certainly knew what he was doing.

“He's grabbed a lot of blazers. I'd guess between five and ten. We've got a lot of stuff back: for example a wallet was found on the field with everything still in it.

“I can't remember anything like this happening before. We are now reviewing security.

“That someone can come on site and do this is worrying. However, the school isn't a prison and we have to balance between safety and not making the place a fortress.”

In an apparently separate incident the previous day a 15-year-old girl, from Loughton, reported that a Samsung Mobile phone and white Apple I-pod had been stolen from her bag in the PE changing room between 12.05pm and 1.50pm.

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: “Police are currently liaising with the school to establish whether there are any other victims. Anyone with information is asked to call police at Loughton on 0300 333 4444.”