A 15-year-old boy has been arrested for allegedly breaking into a school and stealing  toilet copper pipes with his friends.

Police are searching for two other suspects after a robbery at Umnyezani Primary School in Mokgoba ext in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, on Sunday.

According to the police, the break-in happened on Sunday afternoon and was discovered when a teacher came to the school to fetch his cellphone that he had left behind there.

Police spokesperson Constable Justice Ramaube said the teacher told police that as he was walking out of the staff room he heard voices and went to check who was there.

Ramaube said the teacher found three males loading copper pipes they had cut off at the school.

“The copper pipes to the value of R4,000 were found stuffed in a bin ready to leave the premises with the suspects.”

He said the pipes were stolen from the toilets of the school and the premises had been damaged.

Ramaube said two suspects ran away, with one being arrested and charged with robbery.

The police have opened a case of business break-in while the investigation continues.

 “We plead with the community to forward with information that may assist in arresting the suspects,” Ramaube said.

The suspect will appear at the Daveyton magistrate’s court soon in the presence of his parents.

The school principal Velly Katane said: “We were shocked because these are minors and one of them was in this same school at some point. We have a problem of these kids who drop out of school and resort to crime when they should be at school.”

The principal said a plumber was able to put back the pipes and fix the toilets on Monday and that learning was not disrupted.