THE headteacher of the ninth Suffolk school to be targeted by computer thieves in two months has said the burglary feels like a “violation”.

Police are appealing for witnesses after eight Apple iMac desktop computers worth about £5,000 were stolen from King Edward VI School in Bury St Edmunds between 2pm on Sunday and 8am the next day.

The school has become the latest victim in a string of burglaries at sites across Suffolk, with six of the incidents in the west of the county.

More than £25,000 of laptops have already been stolen from primary schools in Monks Eleigh, Bardwell, Rougham, Risby and Moulton in the past month alone.

Geoff Barton, headteacher of King Edward VI School, said there was a “sense of violation” following the burglary.

He added: “I do feel angry. It’s public money that goes into buying these things for the good of the youngsters. I feel very angry and frustrated by it.”

Mr Barton said the thieves had created “a lot of mess” more than damage when they stole the computers, which had been in a locked room, as a huge amount of earth had been spread “all over the place”, which he said the police thought had been to cover their tracks.

He said the computers were used by music and music technology sixth form students for their course work, adding he believed their work would be saved on the network.

Chief Inspector Kim Warner of Suffolk police said the latest school burglary was being linked to previous cases.

He said the police have been working closely with schools on crime prevention and would be happy to visit any schools who wanted advice.

At King Edward VI School it is believed entry was gained to the school grounds by cropping a chain on a gate in Beetons Way and a car was then driven across the playing fields.

Anyone with any information in relation to this crime should contact Pc Barry Simpson at Bury St Edmunds Police Station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.