SANDY, Utah – Sandy City police launched a search for the burglars who broke into two elementary schools and stole some valuable electronic equipment and other supplies. 

According to police, the first alarm went off at Sprucewood Elementary at 12:08 a.m. Sunday and while officers were investigating that burglary the second alarm sounded in Lone Peak Elementary school at 12:44 a.m. 

Police said the suspect or suspects entered each school through a roof hatch. 

“The timeline [and entry] would suggest they are probably connected,” said Sandy Police Sgt. Clay Swensen. “Right now, without knowing their actions inside the building, it’s hard for us to tell if they knew what they were after or they were just randomly searching through the building.” 

“It’s devastating for the whole community for the whole school” heartbreak at two elementary schools after someone breaks into them stealing valuable electronic equipment including robots … a story you will only see @KSL5TV at 5 & 6 pic.twitter.com/NIpNfxDOvc

— Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) April 20, 2021

The school district said there is surveillance video and it is in the process of getting that over to police. 

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math teacher Julie Nye at Lone Peak Elementary called the crime devastating. 

Tuesday was to be her big day to unveil her 15 SHPERO Robots to the kids. Students used their engineering and mathematical skills to program the little electronic balls to perform a variety of commands.

“I was so excited to get to see their eyes light up when I finally introduced these robots today,” said Nye. 

All of them were stolen. “They are gone. They are gone,” she said.

The district said a 3D printer, computers, and other electronic equipment were stolen. 

“It’s devastating for the whole community, for the whole school.  These kids are the ones who are suffering,” said Nye. 

“It’s shocking,” said Tracy Stacy, principal at Lone Peak Elementary. “We are talking about students between the ages of 5 and 11. To know that someone did not care enough to make sure these students didn’t have access to those materials that’s heartbreaking.”