Three men were arrested for breaking into a Hillsborough County high school in an attempted burglary.
Just before 3 a.m. on Tuesday, deputies responded to Bloomingdale High School in reference to an intrusion alarm.
While searching the school, deputies discovered a fire extinguisher missing from a classroom, as well as broken glass on the door to the main office.
Inside that office, authorities found Alexander Ducot, 19, Daniel Myers, 19 and Tyrus Cates, 18. The three men left the office but were caught by deputies outside the school building.
According to deputies, multiple desk drawers inside the main office were found open and nearly two dozen school keys were scattered across the floor and in the hallway. The safety pin for a fire extinguisher was also found on the floor of the office.
One of the suspects had a mailroom bag belonging to Bloomingdale High which contained several items including $4.96 in miscellaneous coins, a Windows HP computer valued at approximately $1,100, a USB adapter, a screw driver and miscellaneous paperwork including a check for $518.
Detectives believe these same three men are responsible for an incident at the same high school that happened at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday, when deputies responded to an alarm and found an open door leading to the cafeteria where a white substance consistent with fire extinguisher discharge was located.
"Stealing property used to educate our children and keep them safe is unacceptable. These men will learn the hard way that breaking into a school is not a prank. It is a crime," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Thankfully deputies were able to catch them in the act, and we return the property they took to the school."
The suspects face charges of grand theft third degree, grand theft of a fire extinguisher, rendering a fire extinguisher inoperative, resisting an officer without violence, trespassing and burglary, among other charges.
