Break-ins at four schools

And as the usual trend of vandalism and break-ins during the holidays has kicked off again, police have asked the public to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious activities.

Detective Chief Inspector Martyn Underhill said: "Police patrols will pay extra attention to school buildings throughout the summer, when the number of thefts and incidents of vandalism always increases."

The four schools in Hastings and St Leonards were targeted last Friday within 12 hours of each other, but police are not linking the incidents.

Filsham Valley school, on Harley Shute Road, was the first to be hit at 4.30am where a window was forced open activating the alarm.

On that occasion two people were seen in the area, one wearing a grey hooded top and light coloured trousers, the other wearing a brown and green hooded top with white writing on the back and white trousers.

The next alarm to go off was at Hillcrest school, on Rye Road, at about 6am after intruders got in through an office window.

Nothing was stolen but according to police, the intruders made an untidy search of the premises.

Shortly afterwards police were called to William Parker School, on Parkstone Road, after a window was broken and sweets stolen.

Although similar, police are not linking these three incidents as they feel it would be impossible for the same perpetrators to cover the distance in the time between each alarm being activated.

However, several hours later at 4pm, damage was discovered at Sacred Heart primary school in Old London Road.

An external boiler room door was forced open and its bolts damaged while a panel on a shed in the nearby playground was also ripped off.

Detective Chief Inspector Underhill said: "There has been a large increase in the number of offences against schools and we are appealing to the public to help us by reporting any suspicious activity around schools during the holiday period."