CLAYTON — The administrators of Concordia Head Start School are hoping a cash reward will help put alleged burglars behind bars.

The school has been broken into twice in as many months this year and Dorothy Oliver, executive director for LaSalle Community Action, said that’s one too many.

“We’ve been grateful to have the (Concordia Parish) sheriff’s office gather information, but I’m just hoping that someone could come forward with new information,” Oliver said. “I think the situation is that they’re getting into the building too easy, and we’re looking for information that can be validated by the sheriff’s office to lead to an arrest or conviction.”

Oliver and the LaSalle Community Action, which funds the school, is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone with information on the burglaries.

Center supervisor Linda Kerry said the first burglary occurred on July 16, when the staff noticed items missing from the administrative offices.

“They took two routers from the computer room and several credit cards that are used for gas on the busses,” Kerry said. “They also broke into one of the teacher’s classrooms, but didn’t steal anything. They just broke some glass.”

Kerry said a second break-in occurred Thursday night, but nothing was taken.

“They broke into the office and took the keys to the lawnmower building that was outside,” Kerry said. “It looks like they tried to back up a truck to the building to load up the lawnmowers, but they were unsuccessful.”

Kerry said there are several similarities with both break-ins that lead her to believe it’s the same suspects entering the school.

“Each time they break into my office and pull out the safety deposit box thinking there’s money in there,” Kerry said. “They must be finding amusement or saying to themselves that they can’t be caught, and it’s turning into a cat and mouse game.

“It’s getting ridiculous.”

CPSO Chief Deputy David Hedrick said deputies have increased patrols in the area of the school since the first break-in, and he encouraged residents to contact the sheriff’s office with more information.

“The caller’s identity will remain anonymous if they want, but the information has to lead to a prosecution to get the reward,” Hedrick said.

Residents can contact the sheriff’s office at 318-336-5231 or the school at 318-757-4586.