TWO schools and a college in Grays have been hit by burglars who has escaped with goods worth tens of thousands of pounds.

Palmer’s College, The Gateway Academy and Woodside Primary School have all been broken into within the past three weeks. Thieves took laptops, computers and photographic equipment.

Essex Police have now drafted in extra officers to combat burglaries in the area.

John Revell, 77, lives in Woodlands Close, Grays and said residents don’t feel safe, with the burglaries all within two miles of each other.

He said: “It is not very nice knowing this is going on.

“My grandchildren go to Woodside Primary and one day they are using their computers and the next they are gone. I just hope the police step up and help before other schools are affected.”

Woodside Primary School, in Grangewood Avenue, and Palmer’s College, in Chadwell Road, were hit by burglars on Tuesday, November 19.

About 20 laptops were stolen from Palmer’s after entry was gained and a cupboard was jemmied open whilst 22 computers, photographic equipment, including projectors, and eight bicycles were taken from Woodside Primary School, totalling more than £22,000.

The Gateway Academy, in Marshfoot Road, was broken into between 9.50pm on Tuesday, November 26 and 7.15am on Wednesday, November 27.

Thieves smashed a window before stealing a laptop.

Thurrock chief Insp Ben Hodder said: “School burglaries is a pattern we have seen before are we are doing our best to tackle it.”

Officers are working with the schools in relation to crime prevention advice.

Call Grays Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.