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Instruments Stolen From Ontario School

ONTARIO (CBSLA.com) — A student music class in Ontario could be without their instruments in 2016.

Officials found broken locks and latches in the storage areas of the chapel at San Antonio Christian School in Ontario, where school employee Robert Rivera says he discovered thieves broke in sometime last week when the kids were off for winter break.

Most of the school's donated musical instruments were stolen.

"The first thing that caught my attention was this door right here. All the wood where he knob is at is tore apart," said Rivera. "They just rummaged through everything."

One accordion, however, was left behind along with a French horn, CBS2/KCAL9's Crystal Cruz reported.

The school's maintenance manager suspects thieves cut a hole in a fence and dragged the instruments out to the street.

Principal Janet Lopez says the school hired a music teacher this year for the first time.

"Money is very tight. It's just sad that someone would steal from children," said Lopez.

The $5,000 deductible on the school's insurance policy isn't in the budget, Lopez added, so new instruments are out of the question.

The principal has called police, but unless the instruments are recovered, she says the students music class will have to focus on choir.

And if anyone has a trombone they would like to donate?

"I would say that would be awesome!" Lopez said.

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