School allegedly broken into during student sleep-over

By Monique Preston

Nov 29, 2024

Thirty students were having a sleep-over at a Goulburn Valley school when it was allegedly broken into overnight Thursday. Photo by McPherson Media Group

A small Goulburn Valley school was allegedly broken into while 30 students were having an overnight school sleep-over on Thursday, November 28.

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Shepparton crime investigation unit Detective Acting Sergeant Matt Clowes said two people allegedly broke into a classroom at Congupna Primary ScHool and stole a laptop and iPad overnight on Thursday.

Thirty children and eight staff members were at the school for the sleepover at the time.

Police allege the pair also broke into Zeerust Primary School the same night.

There they allegedly rummaged through classrooms, but nothing was stolen.

Police arrested a 28-year-old Tallygaroopna woman and a 39-year-old Shepparton man on Friday, and the stolen items were found during a search at a Tallygaroopna house.

The iPad had been smashed and thrown into a dam.

Both people were charged with aggravated burglary and theft from the Congupna school and burglary at the Zeerust school.

The man was also charged with unlicensed driving and criminal damage.

The woman has been bailed to appear in the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court in March next year.

Late Friday afternoon, police said they planned to take the man before an out-of-hours bail justice hearing on Friday night.

Det Act Sgt Clowes wanted to assure the public that these were isolated incidents and police had made swift arrests.