Vandals damaged property at DeLand Middle School Wednesday night, making it the second school in the area to be vandalized this week.

  • Vandals damaged property at DeLand Middle School
  • Second school vandalized in DeLand
  • DeLand High School vandalized Tuesday

DeLand police say the damage at the middle school does not appear to be as extensive as the damage at DeLand High School, where some $10,000 in damages happened Tuesday night.

A preliminary investigation at the middle school found damage to golf carts and a shed so far.

“There were three golf carts that were taken for a joyride throughout the school. There were also some tools that were taken from the maintenance department that were scattered on the track," said school district spokesperson Nancy Wait.

One of those golf carts was driven into a retention pond, damaging a front wheel.

Vandals damaged doors and smashed windows Tuesday night at DeLand High School. The vandals also smashed computers and equipment, causing thousands of dollars in damage.

About 200 students were forced to have class in the gym on Wednesday.

Police say they are reviewing surveillance video from the school and hope to release it soon. It appears the vandals covered up their faces.

DeLand police do not know if there's any link between the two cases of vandalism.

Parents questioned safety at the schools.

"I'm not sure what their security policies are there. I'm sure they lock up everything at night. But you would think that they would have some night security there," said parent Travis Sawyer.

Wait says the school district does not have enough money to hire someone to patrol 24 hours a day, so they're partnering with local law enforcement, asking them to step up patrols

 

DeLand Police Chief Bill Ridgway issued this statement:

“I have contacted Greg Akin, the Chief Operating Officer with Volusia County Schools. His personnel are working in cooperation with our Detective Division on the two incidents that have occurred at DeLand High and Middle School over the past two days. I am confident that our detectives will identify the individuals that are responsible for carrying out these acts so that they can be held accountable. We are still investigating whether these two incidents are related. The DeLand Police Department is increasing overnight patrols at area schools and our detectives are following up on several investigative leads regarding these cases. I am asking any citizen who has information regarding these two senseless acts to contact the DeLand Police Department.”

If you know anything that could lead to the arrest of the vandals in these cases, contact Lt. Pete Moon at 386-626-7421.


Crews examine a golf cart from DeLand Middle School that was driven into a retention pond. (News 13)