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Man Arrested For Alleged Burglary Of Irvine Elementary School

IRVINE (CBSLA.com) — An Irvine man has been arrested for allegedly burglarizing a local elementary school.

Thomas Kirkpatrick, 51, was taken into custody at approximately 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at Canyon View Elementary School.

Police say Kirkpatrick had returned to the campus two-and-a-half hours after an Irvine Unified School District security officer investigating suspicious circumstances confronted him as he exited a classroom just before 5 a.m.

"The security officer quickly snapped a photograph of Kirkpatrick who immediately fled, leaving what was believed to be his motorcycle behind," an Irvine Police Department spokesperson said.

The security officer notified authorities, who searched the area and set up surveillance on the motorcycle.

Detectives spotted Kirkpatrick approaching the parking lot Tuesday morning and took him into custody without incident.

Police say cash, food and a gift card had been stolen from the classroom.

Detectives are investigating the possibility Kirkpatrick might be connected to a series of similar burglaries of school campuses in recent weeks.

Police say there have been ten burglaries at six school sites since April using similar methods of entry.

Anyone with information regarding the cases is asked to contact the Irvine Police Department at (949) 724-7200.

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