Police have caught one suspect and are searching for others who vandalized Woodbank Primary School as well as private properties in Cedar on the weekend.
Mounties were called shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday after residents complained four boys were running through backyards and had broken into the school.
The suspects broke windows at the school, then went inside, discharged fire extinguishers throughout the building and caused other damage.
Police also found blood spots through the building and suspect at least one of the suspects cut himself at some point.
Sgt. Sheryl Armstrong, Nanaimo RCMP spokeswoman, said the suspects also caused damage at private residences nearby.
"They threw a bench over onto a porch and damaged an irrigation system," Armstrong said.
One 17-year-old suspect, who lives in Cedar, was caught by an area resident who held him until police arrived.
Police arrested him and released him to his parents later that day.
Armstrong said costs to repair the damage are estimated in the thousands of dollars and the investigation is continuing.
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.