YOUNG vandals unleashed a wave of destruction at two Wodonga schools on Monday night and early yesterday, leaving more than $25,000 worth of damage in their wake.
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Police said the first school, Wodonga Senior Secondary College, was hit just after 10pm.
The vandals shattered more than 20 windows, sprayed fire extinguishers, graffitied the walls and smashed the laboratory glassware, as well as throwing fruit around.
They had gained access to the technology building, the library and the administration and science building.
Three digital SLR cameras and a digital camera were stolen from the photography department, but were later recovered by a resident who found them at a nearby creek.
School principal Vernon Hilditch said the theft and the cost of the clean-up was expected to add an extra $20,000 to the damage bill.
Mr Hilditch said it was “disappointing” to have a “senseless act” overshadow the previous day’s euphoria of students doing well in VCE exams.
“Schools always have been soft targets and I’ve seen enough of it over the years,” Mr Hilditch said.
“It is devastating and it’s a lot of work and a lot of upset for people — what’s the gain?”
Mr Hilditch said it was fortunate students at the campus had finished school for the year.
“The advantage to us in terms of being a year 10, 11 and 12 school is the fact that students have finished,” he said.
“It would have been chaotic and difficult had the students been here today.”
Wodonga Middle Years College was also targeted, just after 12.30am yesterday.
The youths broke one window, sprayed fire extinguishers and stole five iPads before security personnel attended.
Two boys were seen fleeing on foot but were later identified from CCTV footage and arrested in Emerald Avenue at 9am.
Detective Sen-Constable Justin Foots said the boys, aged 14 and 15, were each charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of theft, two counts of criminal damage, being equipped to steal and shop steal after one was alleged to have stolen a bottle of perfume later in the morning.
“It’s extremely disappointing to see this kind of senseless damage,” Sen-Constable Foots said.
“We are tied up doing this when there are bushfires burning — it’s frustrating when there are other pressing community issues.”
