Ski field trip funds stolen
Editor’s note: This post has been updated. See below.
NAPLES — A Naples Elementary School field trip to Schweitzer Mountain Resort on Thursday is in doubt after a burglar made off funds they were saving for the outing, according to school officials.
In a post to Facebook on Tuesday night, the school said the burglar also stole student council funds and other items including candy, pens and Goldfish crackers. The burglar was in the building for two and a half hours, according to the school.
“Law enforcement has been contacted. Precautions have been taken to further reinforce the safety of our building and students,” school officials said in the post.
The burglar was in the building for two and a half hours, according to the school, and stole a variety of items including candy, pens and Goldfish crackers.
Included in the posts comments were a series of still images of the suspects that were culled from the school’s surveillance system. The school is urging people to contact the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office at 208-267-3151 if they can help identify the suspects.
UPDATE 12:12 p.m.
Naples Principal Robin Merrifield told Spokane TV station KHQ on Wednesday afternoon that Idaho Forest Group and Schweitzer are partnering up to fund the students’ field trip on Thursday.
Other donated money from the public will go towards a scholarship funding another field trip to Schweitzer at the end of the month. Merrifeld said citizens have been calling all morning asking how to help, while some dropped off change to help with funding.
Merrifeld also told the station that security upgrades are in place following Monday’s burglary, including adding an alarm system, reinforced doors and added security cameras.
UPDATE 12:17 p.m.
A suspect has been identified in the burglary, Boundary County Sheriff Dave Kramer told the Bonners Ferry Herald.
“We identified the suspect and have a full confession in the Naples school burglary,” Kramer said.
Kramer added that it’s believed that only one person was involved in the burglary. The suspect was wearing two different jackets in the surveillance footage.
UPDATE 12:43 p.m.
Schweitzer Mountain Resort posted the following to its Facebook page:
“For everyone that has reached out to us concerned about the burglary at Naples Elementary School, thank you. We are in touch with the principal and the kids’ trip to the mountain will be taken care of. We are working with Idaho Forest Group and other generous citizens to make sure the kids don’t suffer because of the actions of a thief.”