Wodonga Catholic College distressed and devastated by $45,000 equipment theft

Catholic College Wodonga principal Lorraine Willis said last week's theft of computer equipment worth about $45,000 created both practical and emotional effects.

"It was a year that we really hoped would be positive and engaging and exciting for our students to come back and our staff to come back, and there was a great sense of that," Mrs Willis said on Thursday.

"To think that people could come in and violate our community in that way is really, really upsetting.

"We all feel like we're part of this place so it's been quite distressing."

The principal said the equipment represented an investment in the school's resources.

"Our priority continues to be providing the best learning and teaching opportunities for our students and we just have to work around that equipment for now," she said.

"It's a significant financial impact for us here and we do really need to be able to either retrieve that equipment or move forward and replace it."

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With the new school year dominated by COVID measures and rapid antigen testing, Mrs Willis agreed the theft "really did feel like just one more thing".

"Everybody on the ground is really banding together," she said. "We all know that we work together to do what we can and get through all of these challenges and not let them derail us from what we need to be doing."

Detective Leading Senior Constable Ian Deverell, of Wodonga, said at least three offenders committed the crime about 10pm on Thursday, February 3.

A mix of Apple laptop and desktop computers were stolen, with police believing the equipment had been targeted.

"They've forced entry through one of the doors to gain access to the computers," the detective said.

"Anyone in the community who has any knowledge or information about people trying to sell new Apple computers, please contact Wodonga police, we'd be happy to hear from you.

"They'll be quite distinctive they're brand new, haven't been registered before, we believe that they're still in the boxes."

Detectives are checking through CCTV footage.

Mrs Willis asked whoever was responsible for the crime to consider its effect.

"It's not fair, it's not the school that's being impacted, it's the students," she said.

"They are our young people and they deserve the opportunity to be able to have access to these resources and to the best learning opportunities that they can, they deserve it."

Anyone with information can contact Wodonga police on (02) 6049 2600 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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