An east Auckland school is battling ongoing issues with vandalism and theft committed by people who are getting onto its grounds at night.
The problem has led Elm Park School in Pakuranga to post a message on its Facebook page warning the local community and asking for information as to who may be responsible.
Principal Sarah Baleicakau recently wrote the school is “having a run on vandalism … pretty much every night”.
“Last night however, went up another level.
“We have had locked sheds broken into and paint and bolt-cutters were taken to be used in a very brazen way.
“We had fire set to things which is very concerning.
“If anyone notices anything, hears anything, sees anything on social media please contact me directly.”
Baleicakau told the Times that over the past few months the school has had people who she describes as “frequent visitors” get onto its grounds overnight.
On “most mornings” her staff members have arrived at school and found drug paraphernalia, which has to be cleaned up before pupils arrive, she says.
“However, over the course of time the degree of vandalism steadily increased.
“From graffiti, destruction of property, breaking into locked sheds and stealing tools and paint, lighting fires and generally just destroying property.
“We also have a building-modernisation taking place [and] builders tools have been taken and used to destroy the school.
“No matter how we secured the site the ‘visitors’ found a way in.”
Baleicakau says the school is undertaking a “significant amount of work” with its property “and equally as significant amounts of resourcing have been allocated to property development”.
“So having this sort of senseless vandalism and destruction of school property is very concerning and hugely disappointing.”
A police spokesperson says a report has been received in relation to a recent incident at Elm Park School and enquiries remain ongoing.
“Police will continue to liaise with the school and provide reassurance to the community while this investigation is under way.”
The vandalism and thefts experienced by the school come in the wake of increasing lawlessness around New Zealand, including a 46 per cent increase in victimisations since 2017, a 140 per cent rise in serious assaults resulting in injury, and a 551 per cent increase in ram-raid burglaries since 2018.
