BURGLARS caused thousands of pounds worth of damage after breaking into a Suffolk school for the second time in four months.The offenders smashed their way into Otley Primary School by breaking windows and doorframes, only to steal a small amount of cash from the site.

By Danielle Nuttall

BURGLARS caused thousands of pounds worth of damage after breaking into a Suffolk school for the second time in four months.

The offenders smashed their way into Otley Primary School by breaking windows and doorframes, only to steal a small amount of cash from the site.

The damage was so severe headteacher Peter Coleby was yesterday forced to close the Chapel Road school while builders assessed the premises.

A police investigation has now been launched.

The school recently opened a new extension and it is the second time in four months that burglars have broken in, only to take a small sum of cash.

Mr Coleby said: "It's devastating. It's mindless damage and has caused complete inconvenience when they will have taken very, very little. It means that the children have lost a day's schooling and staff are very upset.

"It looks like they have used crowbars on the window frames. The woodwork has been completely shattered.

"They forced all of the internal doors causing a tremendous amount of damage. We do not leave laptop computers on the site, we remove them every day.

"They have ignored all the computers, they were simply looking for laptops and cash."

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said last night: "We were contacted just before 8am this morning to a report of a break in.

"Somebody broke into the premises between 6pm on Sunday and 7am this morning. They have caused damage to internal doors and appear to have stolen a small amount of cash as well.

"Obviously we had scenes of crime officers at the scene and officers have started inquiries."

Builders spent part of yesterday assessing the damage while members of staff helped to clean up.

"The most annoying thing is the major damage to the brand new extension which opened in November. It's been broken into twice," said Mr Coleby.

"There's glass throughout the building."

Anyone with information on the incident should contact Woodbridge Police Station via the central switchboard on 01473 613500 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.