Three Teens Break In To Summit Hall ES, Two Arrested

A 12-year-old and a 14-year-old were arrested Saturday while burglarizing Summit Hall Elementary School, and police are looking for a 17-year-old who eluded capture.

County Police spokeswoman Lucille Baur said that County and City Police arrived at the school shortly before 9:30 p.m. Saturday after an alarm was tripped.

Police saw a broken window, then caught one suspect trying to flee through the window.

They arrested him, a 12-year-old boy from Gaithersburg, and charged him with second and fourth degree burglary, malicious destruction of property, and trespassing onto school property.

Officers found a 14-year-old boy from Rockville hiding in a bathroom in the school and charged him with second and fourth degree burglary, malicious destruction of property, and trespassing onto school property.

Both were charged as juveniles.

Investigators learned that a third suspect, a 17-year-old boy from Rockville, was also involved in the break in, Baur said. He may have escaped before police arrived, or remained hidden in the building.

There is a warrant out for his arrest in Baltimore, she said. When he is caught, he will be charged with second and fourth degree burglary, malicious destruction of property and trespassing.

The destruction of property charges are for the broken window.

Because all of the suspects are juveniles, police are not releasing their names, addresses or photos.

The 12- and 14-year-olds were released into their parents' custody, Baur said.

No property was taken, but Baur said it appeared they were trying to steal sports equipment, coins, a compass, markers, string, wire, and a toy yo-yo.

There was no indication whether any of the suspects were or had been students at Summit Hall Elementary School.

Keith Jones, principal at Summit Hall ES, said the break in had no impact on school activities.

"The only evidence we had of the break in was the rifling," he said. "I looked like it was relatively random rifling."

He added that computers and VCRs were not disturbed.

No more than $250 is kept in the school at a time, he said, and that money is kept in a safe.