Vandals smash 17 windows at John P. Robarts Public School, 5 days before classes begin | CBC News

Vandals, apparently working in the overnight hours on Thursday, smashed 17 windows at John P. Robarts Public School in London’s Trafalgar Heights neighbourhood, leaving custodial staff with an awful mess and many classes with boarded-up windows only five days before the school year begins.

On Friday, 17 windows were boarded up at the school. It was not immediately certain whether those responsible got inside the school or whether there was any other damage.

Linda Nicholls, the associate director of the Thames Valley District School Board told CBC News Friday the damage has been cleaned up and that the school would be ready by the time classes return on Wednesday. The cost of the damage is not yet known.

People living near the East London school told CBC News Friday that the neighbourhood has seen a spree of vandalism and thefts over the summer months, which has included the destruction of public transit stops on nearby Marconi Boulevard.

“I don’t think it’s a good thing to happen in the neighbourhood,” said Michael Leech, who lives down the street. “The school is important.

“I don’t know who would be doing it but there were bus shelters in the area not too far away that have been smashed out a few times.”

Kevin McKenna, who also lives in the neighbourhood and has two children, said property crimes are becoming more common in the area.

“I’ve lived in east London all my life and unfortunately stuff like this seems to be happening more and more,” he said. “My truck got broken into, my wallet was stolen, and someone took $200 from my credit card.

“I did a police report. We have a video from our video camera. They didn’t do anything for that,” he said.

A spokesperson for the London Police Service did not immediately reply to a request for comment by email Friday.