Security Concerns Rise at Buenos Aires School Following Repeated Burglaries

A primary school in the Coghlan neighborhood of Buenos Aires, the Manuel Antonio Acevedo School, has been targeted by thieves for the third time in three years. The most recent incident occurred during the final weekend of October, resulting in damage to the building's infrastructure and the theft of several electronic devices, including tablets and a computer.

The breach was discovered on the morning of October 31 by a staff member who noticed that an entrance had been forced open. Upon arrival, the school's director confirmed that intruders had damaged a metal gate and shattered glass in the administrative offices. According to the police report, the perpetrators managed to steal five tablets from a government-provided inclusion kit, a laptop from the cooperative office, and three additional tablets from the library.

This latest event follows similar security breaches in June 2023 and during the Easter holiday in 2024, which resulted in the loss of hundreds of technological devices intended for student use. Following the previous thefts, the school had implemented additional security measures, including an alarm system and a secure room with restricted access, which reportedly helped mitigate the extent of the losses during this most recent intrusion.

In response to the recurring incidents, the school community has renewed its urgent demand for the city government to reinstate the position of a live-in caretaker. Families claim that for nearly 50 years, the school remained secure due to the presence of a caretaker who lived on-site. However, the position has remained vacant since the previous employee passed away between 2020 and 2021.

The school community argues that the lack of a permanent, on-site presence has left the facility vulnerable to criminal activity. Beyond the reinstatement of the caretaker, parents and staff are calling for the installation of security cameras, improved alarm systems, and a commitment to sustained surveillance rather than temporary measures implemented only in the immediate aftermath of a crime.

The school, which serves approximately 350 students, is currently working to recover the stolen equipment, which is considered essential for daily pedagogical activities. The ongoing investigation into the latest burglary is being handled by the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office No. 36.