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A man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of burglarizing a classroom at Canyon View Elementary School in Irvine, police reported.
Investigators are working to determine if Thomas Kirkpatrick, 51, of Irvine may be involved in similar break-ins at schools in the area, according to Irvine police Cmdr. Julia Engen.
An Irvine Unified School District security officer confronted Kirkpatrick as he left a classroom about 5 this morning, according to Engen. The security officer managed to snap a photo of the suspect, who immediately fled, apparently leaving behind a motorcycle, Engen said.
Undercover detectives set up surveillance and arrested Kirkpatrick when he returned to the campus, allegedly to get the motorcycle, as parents were dropping off their children for classes about 7:30 a.m., Engen said.
An undisclosed amount of cash, food and a gift card were stolen from the classroom, Engen said.
She said there have been 10 burglaries at six schools since April in which doors were pried open — the same mode of entry as today’s break-in.
— City News Service