Police in Ponca City, Oklahoma, released a report confirming that a juvenile broke into a public school eight separate times during August 2024. Surveillance video shows the teen slipping into classrooms and offices after hours, beginning on Aug. 11 and continuing through Aug. 28.
Timeline of the break‑ins
According to the police report, the first intrusion occurred on Aug. 11 when the teen moved from one classroom to another and then into an office before leaving unnoticed. Subsequent entries were recorded on Aug. 15, 17, 18, 24, 26, 27 and 28. On several occasions the juvenile remained inside the building for more than two hours, often arriving after 1 a.m.
Items taken and police response
School staff first became aware of the thefts after a teacher reported $70 in cash missing from a classroom on Aug. 28. Video later showed the teen using a school master key to enter the room. When officers located the teen’s home, they found him asleep in his bedroom. He admitted to taking a camera, a Nintendo Switch, cash and a steering‑wheel controller, though he said he could not recall every item.
During a search of the teen’s room, police recovered some of the stolen property, including the camera and the Nintendo Switch, as well as the master key used to gain entry. The police report lists the total value of the stolen items at more than $6,000, though the school continues to assess the full loss.
Charges filed
The juvenile faces a felony burglary charge for unlawful entry into the school building and a misdemeanor larceny charge for the theft of personal property. Ponca City Public Schools has not yet commented on how the teen was able to enter the facility repeatedly without detection.
Community impact
School officials emphasized the importance of securing school facilities and reviewing key‑control procedures. Parents and community members expressed concern over the safety of school property and the need for stronger safeguards to prevent future incidents.
Police continue to investigate the case and are working with school administrators to ensure that all missing items are accounted for and that appropriate security measures are put in place.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
