Vice Principal of C.W. Sawyer Primary School Luther Nottage points to an empty cooler at the school's new tuck shop, highlighting the beverages that were stolen. (Photo: Torrell Glinton)

Administrators and teachers at C.W. Sawyer Primary School in Yellow Elder Gardens yesterday discovered that the school's security booth and tuck shop were robbed of goods estimated at over $1,000.

Items that were stolen included an air conditioning unit, a refrigerator and cases of water, juice and cleaning supplies.

"The Saturday after the hurricane, I came and noticed the air condition and refrigerator were stolen out of the security booth," said Alice Phillips, the school's principal.

"I can't say it was broken into, because nothing was broken.

"But after that happened, we changed the chain on the gate by the south entrance.

"We were here last week cleaning up and getting ready for the students.

"We came back this morning and the gate was still locked.

"One of the teacher's grandsons went in the tuck shop and asked for a juice.

"It was then that we realized that they had wiped out everything.

"When we left on Friday, everything was there."

Phillips said she was baffled as to why someone would steal from a school.

But the principal said she believes the thief is no stranger to the school.

"The sad part about it is you can't always say it's people coming in," Phillips said.

"It seems like people who are already in the school or who have been sending out information.

"We just got that tuck shop. No one even knows where it is. Hardly anyone knows we have that tuck shop.

"It used to be a bathroom for Bahama Games. We just got it redone in September. And there were no locks broken or glass or anything. That's what makes it so distasteful.

"It seems like it was someone who was in the school."

Phillips said they have had petty theft around the school.

A few months ago, gardeners tools were stolen from the school's yard.

She said because this is a more significant loss, she felt the need to contact the police.

Vice Principal Luther Nottage also believes that "it was an inside job".

He said he and another staff member secured the school's gate on Friday.

He called the incident disheartening.

"We are missing those, but we can still function," he said.

"We'll just have to buy things as we need them."

Jayme C. Pinder, Guardian Staff Reporter

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