The total cost of the damage at San Diego's Patrick Henry High School estimated to be $70,000
Credit: San Diego Police Department (2)
NEED TO KNOW
- A male is suspected of vandalism by placing a sticky substance on over 200 door locks at Patrick Henry High School in San Diego in the early morning hours of May 26, authorities said
- He arrived in a sedan and later fled the scene, police added
- Authorities put out a public appeal for information on the suspect’s identity
Authorities are searching for a suspect who vandalized a San Diego high school, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
According to a Crime Stoppers bulletin shared with PEOPLE by the San Diego Police Department, the incident occurred at Patrick Henry High School on May 26 between the hours of 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. local time.
Authorities said a male suspect applied a sticky substance to over 200 door locks, causing permanent damage worth an estimated $70,000.
The doors at the school were glued shut, ABC affiliate KABC reported.
Student Christopher Guzman witnessed teachers trying to open the locks when he arrived at school later that day.
"I was walking in, right, and I looked around. There's all these teachers on the floor. They had these little— I don't know what they were doing, but they were picking at the locks," Guzman told KABC.
Credit: CBS 8 San Diego/YouTube
Police said that the suspect arrived in a 2010-2020 sedan and later fled the scene, police said.
School surveillance footage depicted the suspect, whose face was covered, wearing a hooded sweatshirt with a ‘B' logo on it, plus baggy pants and sneakers.
Authorities believe the suspect acted alone in the vandalism. It is unknown if the suspect is a Patrick Henry High School student as rumors circulated that it was a senior hoax.
"The last couple of weeks of school is very busy. Teachers, students are trying to get everything together before the summer break and it just created a big disruption," Det. Sgt. Roberto Bonilla with the San Diego Unified School District Police Department said, KABC reported.
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PEOPLE contacted the San Diego Unified School District Police Department on Thursday, June 11, but did not receive immediate response.
Those with information about the identity or location of the suspect and the vehicle are asked to call San Diego Unified School District Police Department at 619-291-7678. Those who wish to submit an anonymous tip can call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
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