Boys caught stealing laptops from Wichita middle school overnight, police say
Wichita police say two boys who broke into Mayberry Middle School overnight damaged items inside and stole three laptops.
Officer Charley Davidson said a Board of Education security officer called 911 to report the break in at the school, 207 S. Sheridan, around 3:50 a.m. Thursday. Officers who went to check the burglary report saw the boys, 12 and 14, leaving through a door.
When the boys saw the officers, they ran off, Davidson said. But officers caught up with them and arrested them after a brief chase.
The 12-year-old was carrying three laptops when officers saw the boys leaving the school, Davidson said. Police later found computers, a TV and other items damaged inside of Mayberry, as well as missing candy, he said.
Wichita public school district spokeswoman Susan Arensman said the boys involved are not students at the school, near Maple and West Street. Summer break started last week.
The school building had “minimal damage” that’s already been cleaned up, she said. Some boxes of school supplies were dumped onto the floor, she said, but all of the stolen property was recovered.
The boys tripped the school’s alarm system, which alerted security staff to the break in, she said.
Authorities booked the boys into the Juvenile Detention Facility on suspicion of burglary, theft, destruction of property and curfew violations, Davidson said. The 12-year-old is also a runaway, he said.
This story was originally published May 30, 2019 at 11:09 AM.
