Thieves stole 3,500 feet of copper wiring from Mound Elementary School between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, cutting electricity to the school and disrupting instruction.

The scrap value of the wire is about $10,500 but it could cost approximately $50,000 for the district to replace, according to one electrician's estimate.

Power at Mound went out before school started on Wednesday, but was later restored to most classrooms. By Thursday, all but six portable classrooms had electricity.

For students and staff at the east Ventura school, this meant no computers, no projectors, no heating, no lighting, and no phones.

“[This has] affected the learning of 600 kids for two days," said fifth grade teacher Kathy Crowder.

According to Ventura Police, there were no suspects as of Thursday evening, but whoever stole the copper wiring used a key to enter the area and replaced the expensive copper wire with cheaper aluminum wire known as triplex in order to avoid immediate suspicion.

“The wiring was already hot to the touch yesterday when they called us in here,” said electrician Robert Bytheway, noting that a school the size of Mound would not be able to run on triplex for very long.

Triplex wires can only carry 60 amps of electrical current, which works for its traditional use in overhead power lines, but is not nearly enough to keep a school running. The copper wiring is able to carry 300 amps.

Officials at Mound believe the theft may have taken place in stages and are requesting frequent patrol of the area to help discourage other illegal activity. 

School staff also said that they have been asking the district for security cameras and fences for the past few years which they believe would have helped in either discouraging or catching the criminals.

School routines were interrupted, but classes were held both days. Teachers from classes that were still without power used the library, computer lab and cafeteria as make-shift classrooms. The 5th grade even set up their chairs outside for some lessons.

"The teachers have been really great," said Mound Principal Tom Temprano, "They've been telling the kids that they're going to learn 'colonial style' with no electricity."

Officer Jon Castellanos of the Ventura Police Department described copper theft in Ventura as "sporadic" and that there has been no recent increase in reported incidences.

"This is the first time I've heard of it at a school. It mostly happens at construction sites," Castellanos added.

For Bytheway, the crime was also unique. “This is the first time I’ve seen them pull wire back in, which makes the job unusual,” he said.

Teachers at Mound were appalled by the theft.

"Stealing from kids is just low," fifth grade teacher Kelli Friedman said.

Due to a very tight budget and the state's economic emergency, the school district will now be "trading copper wire for paper and pencils," Crowder said.

Temprano tried to look on the bright side, however, saying that at least the weather has been cooperating.