The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a burglary suspect who broke into the Effingham County High School and Effingham County Middle School. Investigators currently are investigating two separate cases where schools have been broken into and vandalized.

Effingham County High School was the victim of vandalism and burglary on Aug. 11. According to ECSO reports, 13 vending machines were destroyed or damaged in this incident.

A similar incident occurred Aug. 18 at Effingham County Middle School, according to reports. The offenders gained access to the building and made their way throughout the schools taking cash from the vending machines. The offenders did not go after change in the bottom of the machines, which would require a lot of effort opening, but only got the cash from them, which required less work.

The offenders took their time in the schools, staying for hours to complete their crimes, ECSO spokesman Detective David Ehsanipoor said.

The ECSO also has been in contact with the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office.

“They have had a similar incident, and we are seeing if they are related,” Ehsanipoor said.

School video surveillance obtained by the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office from Aug. 11 shows the suspect inside of the school and walking up to the vending machine, breaking into it.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 754-3449.