Suspects in school break-ins are kids

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Just days into winter break and some Albuquerque students are already in big trouble - accused of breaking into their own school.

APS police said around 9:40 p.m. Tuesday, police cars swarmed Albuquerque High School after someone tripped the schools alarm. Dispatch checked the surveillance video and reported seeing five kids in the halls trying to get into classrooms.

Those kids tried to run but officers had already surrounded the school.

KRQE obtained video of three of the kids sitting in handcuffs just moments before they were hauled off in cop cars.

APS police said five were arrested. Four of arrested attended Albuquerque High, one other attended Sandia.

Albuquerque police assisted with the call and said it’s not uncommon for the suspects to be students of the school where the crime happens.

“A lot of times we do find apprehend kids that break into a school that it’s their school,” APD Officer Robert Gibbs said. “The reason for that is they're familiar with the schools, they know what kind of items are in the school and they know where to go and what they want.”

Police don't know if the kids were out to steal from the school or vandalize it.

However, police say the motive in a break in at a elementary school just hours after this one was a bit more clear.

“Once we arrived we did find signs of a break in,” Gibbs said.

Police said around 2 a.m. Wednesday, two boys broke into Emerson Elementary and were caught with computers in their hands.

“We're not sure if they take these items to use themselves or sell for something they see for a skateboard,” Gibbs said. “It’s rather unfortunate.”

Officers said it's unfortunate that kids would want to take from other kids. While the holidays are supposed to be filled with good will toward others, school marquees that often advertise the holiday break may seem more like a big invitation to vandals and thieves.

All seven kids were charged with commercial burglary.