Woman arrested for burglary after Bristol special school reports double break-in

A woman has been arrested after a special education needs school in Bristol says it was broken into twice in the space of a week.      

Briarwood School said a safe, iPads and keys to their new minibus were stolen, with “significant damage” also caused.               

Avon & Somerset Police say they have since found a damaged safe and arrested a woman on suspicion of burglary.

The school, which has three sites across east-central Bristol, said the incidents happened at its secondary provision on the site of Bristol Metropolitan Academy on Snowdon Road in Fishponds.   

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In a statement on social media on Monday (May 20), the school said: “We are very sad to let our families and community know that our secondary school was broken into last week. 

“Not only was significant damage caused, the thieves managed to steal the safe which had money raised by the pupils through their enterprise efforts, some of our technology including iPads/iPods and the keys to our brand new minibus that was delivered just the day before.   

“As if that wasn’t devastating enough, the thieves have returned over the weekend and have broken in again, damaging a number of other doors in the process.” 

Briarwood School supports pupils from 3 to 19 with severe and profound learning difficulties, complex needs, autism and sensory impairment.  

The school added in its statement: “We wanted to share this upsetting news as we want to raise awareness of the impact that this kind of behaviour has on some of the most vulnerable people in our community.    

“Whilst we have and will continue to do everything we can to minimise the impact on pupils, we know how disappointed they will be not to be able to use the new minibus to get out and about for now.”  

An Avon & Somerset Police spokesperson said: “A woman has been arrested as part of a police investigation following a burglary at a special school in Fishponds.  

“Police were alerted by staff at the school in Snowdon Road just after 7am on Wednesday 15 May.  

“A door had been damaged and a safe containing cash and keys was taken. 

“Crime scene investigators attended and carried out a forensic examination. 

“In the early hours of Tuesday 21 May officers patrolling in nearby Chapel Road found a damaged safe and arrested a woman on suspicion of burglary.   

“She was later released under investigation and enquiries continue. 

“If you have any information or dashcam or other footage which could help, please call 101 and give the reference 522412359.”