Labourer confesses to school break-in

A young labourer yesterday pleaded guilty to breaking into a school and stealing a number of items.

It is alleged that between December 29 and December 30, 2010, Jamal Edmonds, 19, broke into the Saint John the Baptist Primary School and stole a number of items, amounting to $433,795. The items included two CD players, a projector, food stuff, toiletries and tools.

Police Inspector Stephen Telford told acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry that on December 29, 2010, at 13:10 hrs, the headmistress of the school secured the building and left. Upon her arrival the following morning, she noticed the doors open and discovered that the school had been ransacked. She quickly realised that items were also missing. A report was made to police and Edmonds, a Pomeroon Oil Mill labourer, was later arrested.

When given a chance to explain himself, Edmonds said, “Police say I take them things, but I din take everything….” He claimed that the guard on duty had a part to play in the theft. “De guard told me to steal de things and go sell it and bring back half de money,” he continued. When asked by the magistrate which items he took, he admitted to stealing the CD player, the tools and the projector.

The magistrate subsequently remanded Edmonds to prison until January 31, for sentencing pending a probation report to the court.