Burglaries at schools and other educational establishments across the Bradford district have nearly quadrupled in just 12 months – sparking fears that burglars are wrecking children’s education.

In October 2010, there were nine break-ins or attempted break-ins compared to 32 last month, and 32 in September – an increase of more than 250 per cent. A third of the recent incidents related to IT theft, with 11 laptops taken in one school burglary.

In one of the most extreme cases, Princesville Primary School in Willowfield Street, Shearbridge, Bradford, was broken into five times in a fortnight from October 10.

Sara Rawnsley, headteacher of Princesville, said: “Eleven children’s laptops were taken one time and four teacher’s laptops were taken. This affects children’s lives. I want to put posters up saying ‘Take the food from our mouths next’.

“We had no vandalism here for years and years then all of a sudden we have this.”

Meanwhile, Atlas Primary School in Manningham has suffered four vandalism and theft attempts in the last year.

Caroline Carr, headteacher of Atlas, said it was a sad reflection of society that people were resorting to stealing from schools.

Brian Harrison, headteacher at Miriam Lord Community School in Manningham, has introduced a swipe card security system after someone posed as a parent to get into the school four weeks ago and steal his mobile phone during the school day.

“Two days later this guy came back with his friend and climbed in through the kitchen window,” he said. “Another teacher’s phone was taken that time. I was quite shocked really but was quite relieved to find that someone had broken in rather than the children taking it.”

His CCTV has been passed to the police.

Miss Carr said that the problem was such an issue that Springwood School in Manningham was applying for planning permission to get a higher fence to deter criminals, while the nearby Iqra Community School actually employs a security guard to deter thieves and vandals.

Miss Carr’s school has shutters on all the windows except the 6ft-high window in the school hall, which thieves climbed into during half-term and stole a £600 laptop.

St Oswald’s School in Great Horton was broken into in October, and burglars targeted Craven Pupil Referral Service on Keighley Road, Skipton, and stole £15,000 worth of electrical equipment in August.

Earlier this year, Ilkley Grammar School was broken into three times in one month, leading the headteacher Gillian James to appeal to the community for information.

Read more on this story in Monday's T&A