Teens charged with break-in at school building

Two teens face criminal charges for allegedly breaking into the South Whidbey School District office

Two teenagers are facing criminal charges for allegedly breaking into the South Whidbey School District office and stealing flash drives, glass apples and other items in May, according to court documents.

Prosecutors charged the two 16-year-old boys in Island County Juvenile Court July 2 with burglary in the second degree and theft in the third degree.

The cases are unrelated to a May 18 senior prank in which a group of students entered South Whidbey High School at night and littered classrooms and common areas with toilet paper and balloons and touched sensitive files.

A report by a deputy with the Island County Sheriff’s Office states that the two teenagers entered the district office building on Maxwelton Road on two separate occasions, but they were only charged in connection with the second burglary. The first time was on the night of May 17 and the second time was on the night of May 26, the report states.

The South Whidbey High School principal contacted the sheriff’s office on May 28 to report that the break-ins were captured on surveillance videos.

The report states that the boys found keys inside a classroom that they used to access locked doors. The video from May 26 showed them arriving in a car and then entering and exiting the district office many times, the report states. The teenagers finally exit carrying a large bag and lock up after themselves, the video shows.

Among the items stolen were glass apples which had been purchased for retiring school staff. In addition, flash drives, a cell phone and an expensive earring were stolen, the deputy wrote. The report states that the district used the cell phone for taking photos, but it doesn’t indicate what information was on the flash drives.

Both of the boys allegedly admitted to entering building and stealing items, the report states.