Thieves Steal $50K Worth Of Electrical Equipment From Riverside School

RIVERSIDE (CBS) — A search is underway Monday for the thief or thieves who stole high-voltage electrical breakers from Fremont Elementary School in Riverside. School district officials said they were scrambling to get a $30,000 part to restore power.

The main breaker switches and a number of sub-breaker switches were taken from the electrical switch gear, according to  Deputy Superintendent Mike Fine. He estimated the total loss at more than $50,000.

The thief or thieves broke into the city's electrical transformer and disconnected the live power before removing the large breakers in the main service and subsidiary service panels, he said.

The school district was trying to contact parents through automated calling and email and would hand out a letter to parents as they drop off their children Monday morning.

Parents were told to have their children wear jackets. Fine said classrooms may be cooler than usual.