A school being built in Shepparton has allegedly been broken into five times in the past month.
Shepparton Crime Investigation Unit Detective Acting Sergeant Matt Clowes said builders at All Saints Anglican School in Verney Rd had allegedly been targeted.
A “significant number” of power tools had allegedly been stolen, along with other building materials.
Of the alleged burglaries, three were last week alone.
“It’s causing considerable disruption to the construction,” Det Act Sgt Clowes said.
The school has now employed 24-hour security guards at the site.
Police also staked out the school grounds overnight on Sunday, October 29, and Monday, October 30, in a police operation.
A 43-year-old Shepparton man was arrested at the school early on Monday morning.
He was charged with burglary and theft at the school that night and on October 9.
Police are only alleging he was involved in two burglaries at the school.
He has been bailed to appear in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court.
Det Act Sgt Clowes said police had stepped up patrols around construction site areas in town.