Morrinsville College deals with thefts

Students are being urged to take precautions after a spate of thefts.

Morrinsville College is working hard to make the school a safer place following a series of thefts.

Deputy principal Murray Feast has received complaints from students’ parents and said theft was an issue at the school as it was at many others.

One mother of a Morrinsville College student said her son had items of clothing stolen four times in three terms.

“We are sickened and furious that a group of individuals believe it is their right to take whatever, whenever they want to,” she said.

She said that on one weekend, two members of the football team had a mobile phone, iPod, and a translator stolen from their bags while they were playing a home match.

Mr Feast said the problem was that items most readily taken were small and portable and the people taking them knew they would be found in jackets and pockets.

He said he had talked to Morrinsville College students during school assemblies, asking them to take precautions and to report any thefts.

“It’s an issue because some kids don’t get the message at home that theft is wrong,” he said.

“We are determined that this be a fine community school and we can’t ignore the problem.”

Neil Faulkner, from Morrinsville Police, said they had received only two reports of theft at the school this year.

“As far as we know, there have not been enough complaints for us to notice a problem. If it’s not reported, then we can’t see what’s happening.”

To avoid theft, Mr Faulkner advised taking precautions.

“Make sure your items are labelled, don’t take anything valuable or expensive to school, and students need to alert their parents immediately if anything is lost or stolen.”

Mr Feast has also advised students and parents to name, engrave or label all of their items before bringing them to school.

“I have to be concerned because you are talking about people’s private possessions, and because you can’t have a safe school when people don’t respect other people’s property.”