Thieves ransacked a South Los Angeles elementary school over the weekend, marking the sixth time in the past four months that the school has been targeted and posing a challenge for students, teachers and administrators.
Video of the aftermath at Wadsworth Avenue Elementary School showed chairs being overturned, school supplies thrown out, and equipment used by students stolen or damaged.
A total of 24 classrooms were broken into and destroyed.
“This is a poor school and it breaks my heart,” LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carballo said. “Frankly, it infuriates me.”
Frustrated by the onslaught of school intruders, the superintendent also said that, unfortunately, incidents like this are common throughout LAUSD.
“This is nothing special,” he added. “This term alone, there have been 171 incidents of school vandalism, robbery, defacement, theft of catalytic converters from buses, theft of copper and damage to air conditioning units.”
November 25, 2024 LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carballo inspects Wadsworth Street Elementary School after a recent break-in. (KTLA) For the sixth time since July 2024, vandals have broken into Wadsworth Street Elementary School. (KTLA) Wadsworth Avenue Elementary School was damaged for the sixth time since vandals broke into it in July 2024. (KTLA) For the sixth time since July 2024, vandals have damaged Wadsworth Avenue Elementary School. (KTLA) Wadsworth Avenue Elementary School damaged by vandals breaking into school for the 6th time since July 2024 (KTLA)
Beyond the cost of repairing or replacing damaged property, Carballo said the break-ins are a major inconvenience for students, teachers and other school district employees.
Wadsworth Avenue Elementary School Principal Jenny Guzman-Murdock echoed similar sentiments.
“It’s more destruction and it’s devastating for students and teachers and staff,” she said.
Berta Cuevas, who lives nearby and has a daughter in first grade, said she received a call from school officials informing her of the recent robbery.
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It’s a shame. “I wake up every day and take my kids to school, and it’s really terrible that some people are doing this,” she explained to KTLA’s Jacqueline Sarkisian.
The school has security alarm systems installed, and authorities are also installing security cameras.
Officials say the total damage caused by the break-in was estimated at $115,000.
Carballo said police will increase patrols in the area and urged anyone who may have information about the robbery to contact Los Angeles School Police or the Los Angeles Police Department.
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