MEDFORD, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Medford school administrators are reexamining their security measures after an unknown woman was able to get inside the McGlynn School at lunchtime on Friday and steal from empty classrooms.
Police released surveillance images of a person-of-interest and her vehicle, hoping the public will help identify her.
Medford Superintendent of Schools Roy Belson said staff did not follow security protocols when they allowed the woman to enter a side door of the school and walk the halls. She stole a total of about $800 from four teachers' purses while their classrooms were empty, Belson said.
"There was someone at the door who checks people coming in, and the middle school students were coming back in from the outside, and this individual just walked in with them," Belson said. "This individual should've been stopped and wasn't."
But the breach in security didn't stop there, Belson said.
"She actually talked to another person down the corridor, and that person just asked, 'Can I help you?'" Belson said. "And the person said, 'No, I'm just looking for a pen,' and then kept going."
Eugene Benoit, whose daughter is in eighth grade at McGlynn, said he is required to sign in at the front officer every time he visits the school. He is surprised someone slipped by the usual security.
"If someone's able to get in to steal coins from purses, then obviously they can do a lot more damage," Benoit said. "I'm wondering whether or not they have to beef up security."
Belson said administrators have addressed the issues with all school employees and discussed improving security measures.
"Thankfully, nothing irreparable happened," Belson said. "Human error happens. So we'll make sure that we redouble our efforts, and it won't happen again."