UK COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM SCHOOLS http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/headlines/display.var.1114671.0.thieves_smash_and_grab_raid_on_schools.php

Rowde Primary School was closed yesterday after burglars smashed their way in to steal a safe while children were enjoying a school club in the hall.

Police believe they used an office chair to wheel the safe out after breaking through heavy safety glass in the front door at 6.30pm on Tuesday .

Computers were also taken at St Joseph's School in Devizes the same evening, while a governors' meeting was taking place in the building.

At Rowde School the thieves stole three teachers' laptop computers and the safe from the school office.

Head teacher David Ball said: "The police have said they probably broke in to steal the safe but took the laptops as they walked past.

"Fortunately, there was hardly anything in the safe, because we bank our money every day.

"There was a club on in the hall, but that is completely shut off from the rest of the building after the end of the school day, so the thieves had the run of the school."

It is thought that one child attending the club, who came out to go to the toilet, saw two men walk past but thought they were members of staff.

Police believe the safe was wheeled out on an office chair, which was then abandoned in the car park.

There is CCTV coverage at the front of the building, but not at the rear.

Children were sent home as police had asked staff not to allow anyone in the building until scenes-of-crime officers had investigated.

The school is due to be back to normal today.

Police believed the burglars then went on to St Joseph's School.

It is not known how the thieves gained entry but there was a governors' meeting in progress at the time.

The school has an entryphone system and people cannot simply walk in.

The burglars stole three laptop computers, worth over £1,000.

Sheila Jones, who took over as head teacher in September, said: "It is very depressing when something like this happens.

"I can't imagine anyone preying on children's education like this.

"I would urge anyone who saw anything out of the ordinary to contact the police straight away."

Anyone who saw suspicious behaviour at either of the school sites is asked to call police on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111