Community steps up to replace stolen tools

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Multiple community members donated to the Oak Harbor High School Career & Technical Education department after someone broke into the school and stole about $1,000 worth of tools earlier this month.

School District Comm- unications Officer Conor Laffey said the culprit broke the padlock and cut through the fencing to steal the tools.

There are several classes in engineering, manufacturing and construction at the high school that teach students how to use hand tools and other equipment.

An advanced engineering class uses an outdoor space behind the school for larger projects, and students have been working on a 10-by-20-foot shed and a trailer to move it.

Staff reported the incident to the Oak Harbor Police Department on May 7 and purchased replacements so students could continue their work.

Several businesses and members of the community offered their donations and support after hearing about the theft, Laffey said.

“Even after being told that the school had recouped what was lost, we were grateful to learn that there were so many generous community members who still wanted to contribute,” he said, thanking those who donated.

Oak Harbor Police Capt. Mike Bailey said the investigation is ongoing.