Police seek trio caught on camera breaking into, vandalizing Glendale schools

March 18, 2016 2:25 PM PT

Three vandals broke into Toll Middle School in Glendale early Saturday morning, with their faces shielded by bandannas and clothing, and caused an estimated $20,000 in damage to the campus using pry bars and hammers, police said.

At around 1:45 a.m., the trio smashed windows and security cameras, forcing their way into 20 classrooms and offices hunting for valuables, said Glendale Police spokeswoman Tahnee Lightfoot. Cash was missing from one office, though police did not immediately know what else was taken.

A couple of hours later, the vandals broke into four classrooms at Mark Keppel Elementary School, located next to Toll, and made off with cash.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.

Anyone with information about the suspects is asked to call Glendale police at (818) 548-4911. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @atchek

Alene Tchekmedyian

Alene Tchekmedyian is an investigative reporter at the Los Angeles Times. She previously covered the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, focusing on accountability stories and writing about failures by officials to comply with transparency laws. Before joining The Times in 2016, she reported on crime and policing for the Glendale News-Press and Burbank Leader.