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Vandalism at two Clay schools totals nearly $10,000

Nearly ten thousand dollars in damage done to two Oakleaf schools, and Clay deputies think the crimes may be related.

“It has us concerned greatly,” says Mary Justino with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

WOKV obtained a report on Plantation Oaks Elementary School, which experienced approximately $6,000 in damage overnight Sunday in to Monday. The report says between several school portables and the building itself, there were numerous windows broken, fiber optic cable damaged, and fire extinguishers discharged.

The same school was vandalized just one week ago, costing $3,000 in damage from that incident. Deputies reported a person or people broke in to one of the portables- which is being used mostly for storage- and dumped out boxes, wrote on the wall, broke lab equipment, tore down a speaker, and discharged another fire extinguisher. Several windows on adjacent portables were broken.

On the same day, vandalism was uncovered at Oakleaf Jr. High School. This time, the suspect or suspects broke in to the gym, discharging several fire extinguishers and damaging an American flag.

Justino says these incidents have a different nature than prior break-ins they’ve dealt with because nothing was stolen.

“Break-ins for vandalism sake,” she says of these crimes.

Not much information is yet available on who is responsible for this vandalism. Justino says they’re not ruling out any age or motive.

In the meantime, CCSO will be making their presence known.

“It would not be unusual for us to have a higher presence on those school grounds and in those neighborhoods,” she says.

If you have any information on the break-ins or who may be responsible, you’re asked to call CCSO at 904-264-6512.

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