Bandits carted off equipment valued around $102,000 from the Viola Nursery School at Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam (NA) over the weekend.

Stabroek News understands that students and teachers were looking forward to using the equipment which includes a public address system and a “DVD surround system” for their graduation some time this week. They were given quite a scare when they turned out to school on Monday morning and discovered that they had been robbed.

The equipment was obtained through the Parent Teacher’s Association (PTA). Chairman of the PTA Travis Isaacs said the thieves gained access to the building through a broken window at the eastern section. He said the burglary was discovered at around 8 am and that the police were immediately informed. However, two hours after the report had been made the police had still not arrived on the scene.

Stabroek News understands that this is not the first time that the school had been vandalised and though several complaints had been made to regional officials nothing has been done. Isaacs said he and a delegation from the PTA attended a “high-profile meeting” with the regional chairman requesting assistance in securing the school. He said they had provided documentation to the officials showing that the school was not secure and that it was dilapidated.

According to reports parents are now fearful that their children may be in danger “because you never know when the thieves would strike again.”