A HEADMASTER has been forced to put bars on the windows of his school, after thieves broke in two weekends in a row.
The low-lives smashed the windows at Thorpe Hall school , in Great Wakering, to steal about £7,500 of computers.
They first forced their way in on Sunday September 23 to steal five desktop computers and left broken glass strewn in their wake.
Not satisfied, they returned in the early hours of the following Sunday to take six more computers.
Headteacher Andrew Hampton said: “It’s that classic double whammy, when burglars go for something once, take it, then come back for the rest.
“We were secured, we could have thought to grill the windows then because there was a chance they could come back, but life is busy and we’d got the room in working order.”
He said they would be taking no chances this time, the windows have been boarded up and grills are set to be installed.
He said: “We are going to grill the windows which is a shame in a school, because then the kids have to work in a room with grills on it.”
He urged anyone who noticed a car there to ring its make and model in to police.
Police revealed they are also investigating a similar attempted burglary at Hamstel Infant and Junior Schools, in Hamstel Road, which happened over the weekend.
The crooks smashed the windows but fled empty-handed. It appears the break-ins could be connected.
Anyone with information should call Southend police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.