Stolen pencils case: school reaction sharp, lead followed

Balclutha Primary School prefects (from left) Kayley Strachan and Leticia Cochrane (both 13), and...
Balclutha Primary School prefects (from left) Kayley Strachan and Leticia Cochrane (both 13), and Holly Davidson and Jessie O’Hara (both 12), want to see their stolen ‘‘school values’’ pencils returned. PHOTO: RICHARD DAVISON
Balclutha Primary School has alerted police after two pencils were stolen on Friday.

Pencil cases will not be searched, however, as the items in question are 1.8m ornamental plastic replicas displaying the school's values.

Balclutha principal Paddy Ford said evidence suggested the pencils were snapped off and removed by vandals on Friday night, in a repeat of an incident in 2016.

"Again, this has been upsetting for our students and parents, who've taken to social media to express their horror at this vandalism of their school. On the positive side, this is a very rare occurrence.

"We've been inundated with messages of support."

He said "security measures" had provided a potential lead, which had been passed on to Balclutha police.

The pencils in question were red and blue, and bore the inscriptions, "We're lifelong learners" and "We contribute to society".

Year 8 prefect Jessie O'Hara said the perpetrators could learn from those messages.

"Why would anyone do this? What would they gain? It's disrespectful and we want them back, please."

Mr Ford said it would cost $600 to replace the pencils, which were made in Auckland.

Balclutha Police (03)418-0203; Crimestoppers 0800 555-111.

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