Police arrest person of interest in thefts at Burbank elementary schools

Police on Wednesday arrested a person of interest in two thefts reported at two Burbank elementary schools this month.

Officers served a search warrant and arrested the woman, who was not identified, on an outstanding warrant for a similar crime in Los Angeles.

Police believe that the woman entered an empty classroom at Bret Harte Elementary School, located at 3200 Jeffries Ave., on the afternoon of Oct. 7 and stole a credit card and money from a teacher’s purse, according to Burbank Police Sgt. Claudio Losacco.

The woman, who is not a parent of any students, later reportedly used the card to make purchases at stores in Glendale and Burbank.

After releasing surveillance photos of the woman, police learned she may have committed a similar theft at Emerson Elementary School. Investigators believe she may also be connected to similar incidents reported in La Crescenta and El Segundo.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Burbank police at (818) 238-3210.

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Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @atcheck