CLEVELAND, Ohio - Police are searching for at least two suspects who broke into the Old High School demolition site in Parma last month, stole copper, and vandalized the office.
According to the report, police responded to a call at 6285 W. 54th St. on January 22nd. A report was made about a break-in and trespassing into the building.
George Kalavakis, an employee of EA Group working at the demolition site, told officers that when he arrived at work that morning, his office had been vandalized. He said someone scattered furniture and documents, and also damaged sinks, resulting in flooded hallways and rooms.
In footage from a camera installed by Kalavakis, two masked suspects can be seen rummaging through the office with a flashlight. He reported to the police that, in his opinion, the suspects entered the premises of the former school around 12:20 a.m., according to the video footage.
Copper pipes were also stolen from another part of the school.
The police stated that the demolition site was locked overnight and they saw no way anyone could have entered the premises without seriously injuring themselves.
Kalavakis told the police that there had been previous break-ins and copper thefts on the site, but no one reported it because "they didn't want to bother the police".
The process began last fall after Parma's public schools entered into a nearly $260,000 contract with GPD Group for the demolition of Parma Middle School and Renwood Elementary School in 2022.
Last year, superintendent Charles Smialek stated that the estimated cost of the demolition was $4.5 million, which the district allocated from its ongoing improvement fund.
The school administration declined to comment, citing a police investigation.
