The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has arrested three men who broke into Bloomingdale High School in Valrico and attempted to steal several items.
Just before 3 a.m. on Tuesday, December 31, deputies responded to the high school, located at 1700 Bloomingdale Avenue, in reference to an intrusion alarm.
While searching the inside of the school, a fire extinguisher was discovered missing near one of the classrooms. Shortly after, deputies found broken glass on the door to the main office and located three men inside the office. The men, later identified as Alexander Ducot, 19, Daniel Myers, 19, and Tyrus Cates, 18, all fled the office, but they were caught by deputies outside the school building.
Multiple desk drawers inside the main office were found open and nearly two dozen school keys were scattered across the floor and in the hallway. The safety pin for a fire extinguisher was also found on the floor of the office.
One of the suspects had a mailroom bag belonging to Bloomingdale High which contained several items including $4.96 in miscellaneous coins, a Windows HP computer valued at approximately $1,100, a USB adapter, a screw driver and miscellaneous paperwork including a check for $518.00.
Deputies believe the same suspects arrested on Tuesday are responsible for an incident at Bloomingdale High School that occurred around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 28. Deputies responded to an alarm at the high school and found an open door leading to the cafeteria where a white substance consistent with fire extinguisher discharge was located.
The arrestees are facing charges of grand theft third degree, grand theft of a fire extinguisher, rendering a fire extinguisher inoperative, resisting an officer without violence, trespassing and burglary, among other charges.
"Stealing property used to educate our children and keep them safe is unacceptable. These men will learn the hard way that breaking into a school is not a prank. It is a crime," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Thankfully deputies were able to catch them in the act, and we return the property they took to the school."
