Vandals struck at Uplands Park Elementary School on the weekend.
Nanaimo Fire Rescue was first to respond at about 1 a.m. Sunday to a fire alarm at the school.
“When the crews got there – they were called to an ‘alarms activated’ – there was some rubbish burning in one of the patio areas, but when they did the walk-around the building, they found somebody had tried to break in,” said Ennis Mond, Nanaimo Fire Rescue fire prevention officer.
A wooden realtor’s sign hanger had been pulled up and used to smash a window in a door, which allowed someone access to pull a fire alarm inside the building.
Donna Reimer, school district spokeswoman, said three windows had been smashed and the school broken into.
“No fire entered the school, just smoke,” Reimer said.
RCMP checked for intruders in the building, but found no one, she said.
Reimer did not have information on whether the damage affected school operations Monday.
Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said costs for repairs will likely be at least $1,000 because window frames and glass were damaged.
“They also lit the real estate sign and its frame,” O’Brien said. “They threw something into the school as well, hard enough that they dented the white board.”
Police are investigating whether the incidents at the school and a fire set at Harry Wipper Park Saturday are related.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com.