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May 30, 2008 5:39 pm US/Central
Copper Theft Closes Dallas Elementary School
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
Some Dallas elementary school students say thieves ruined their "end of the year" fun Friday. Copper thieves caused so much damage to Dorsy Elementary that the school had to close its doors.
Overnight, thieves broke into a breaker box taking some $200 worth of copper. The burglary wiped out electricity to the entire main building and portable units. Students and staff arrived Friday morning to darkness.
"They cleaned me out man. I mean they got the main electrical panel to the main building," explained school maintenance supervisor Jerry Dear. "They cut the portables. They killed all my boxes on the power grid outside for TXU. All of that's been ripped."
Friday was one of the last days of the school year and administrators had planned a field day for students, complete with a cookout and 'bounce houses'. All of the events had to be canceled.
Disappointed students and teachers were bussed to four neighboring elementary schools for the day. "We had to go to a different school because somebody had took out the wires," little Jalesia Sanders said. "And we didn't have no lights."
The schools welcomed their Dorsey guests with open arms. At Pleasant Grove Elementary an empty gymnasium was transformed into a makeshift classroom.
The thieves have not been caught, but authorities suspect at least one of them may have been injured while cutting a live wire at the school.
DISD officials estimate it will cost $200 to replace the copper and some $25,000 to repair damage to the school. "It just really cost the district a lot of money," Dear said "I got to get the food out the school to keep from spoiling. I had nine busses here to take my kids to other schools. Tax dollars are being waster like this."
Students were bussed back to school just after 2 p.m. so they could catch busses or have their parents pick them up.
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