Thieves break into Kilifi school to steal tithes

Police are investigating an incident involving six armed gangsters who broke into the administration block of St Thomas Girls' Secondary School in Kilifi and stole tithes and petty cash.

The thugs, armed with toy guns, staged the raid on Tuesday night after assaulting three night guards who attempted to prevent them from entering the school.

Kilifi North police commander Stanley Tonui said the robbers stole Sh18,000 in tithes and sh32,000 in petty cash after the thieves damaged two cash boxes.

Tonui reported that the thieves entered the school, specifically targeting the administration block, which houses the principal's office, the boardroom, and the bursar's office, at around 1 a.m. on Wednesday.

“A gang of six men who were believed to be armed jumped over the perimeter wall into the school compound near the principal's residence. They tied the three private guards with ropes on both arms, blindfolded them and ordered them to remain silent," said Tonui.

The thieves also took sh500 from one of the school guards as well as phones belonging to the guards but abandoned those phones within the school grounds when they jumped over the perimeter wall to an unknown destination.

“We are yet to know what else was stolen, but our DCI officers are doing everything to establish what was stolen and the motive,” he said.

He said no arrests have been made so far. Tonui urged locals to be vigilant even during the night and urged them to report any suspicious activities for prompt action by police.

The school is about 700 metres from Kilifi North police station.

St Thomas Girls' Secondary School Principal Mrs Eunice Nwaiseghe said the situation is calm at the school and that learning is ongoing.

''It looks like they had proper knowledge about the school. They stole the two cash boxes but left my laptop untouched," she said.

Nwaiseghe said the CCTV footage has been obtained by the police.