Copper Theft at Playa del Carmen School Disrupts 193 Students

Playa del Carmen, Mexico — The "Niños Héroes" primary school awoke on Monday with its electrical installations destroyed and without power following a theft over the weekend. Criminals took screens, projectors, and computers in the heart of the city, just two blocks from the Parque Fundadores.

School Operations Disrupted by Vandalism

One week after the start of the 2025-2026 school year, students at the Niños Héroes primary school returned to classes on Monday morning to find the electrical wiring in several classrooms destroyed due to the theft of copper from the electrical cables. As a result, the school was left without electricity, forcing 193 students to take their classes in the hallways and under a domed outdoor structure.

The incident occurred over the weekend when several individuals entered the school, located at Avenida 15 Sur and Avenida Juárez in the Centro colony of Playa del Carmen. They ransacked nearly all the classrooms and external areas in search of electrical cable to extract the copper, which is the highest-paying material at scrap metal yards. This type of theft is common, and unfortunately, to remove the material from a building's installation, the perpetrators break lamps, outlets, and external fixtures.

Additional Equipment Stolen in Brazen Heist

The thieves also took the opportunity to steal electronic equipment, iron, and any utensil or frame that contained material they could sell for recycling.

Upon arriving at the educational plant, teachers observed the destruction inside and outside the classrooms. Upon reviewing what the criminals had taken, they realized that classrooms were missing screens, projectors, computers, and wiring from which to extract and sell the copper. The perpetrators had ample time to carry out the act.

This looting has adversely affected 193 students who occupy the school's 14 classrooms. Students were forced to hold classes in the hallways and the domed area, which were adapted for use because a large part of the primary school remains without electrical power.

Authorities Notified for Investigation

Due to these events, school authorities were informed of the occurrence in order to file a report with the corresponding authorities. The brazenness of the entry into this school, located in a high-traffic zone just two blocks from the Parque Fundadores, beaches, and the pier, is notable, as public indifference meant no one noticed movement within the school on days when there were no activities.

Surveillance cameras also exist on the corner where the school is located, so authorities are expected to review the footage to determine how and at what time the individuals entered the premises.

A Call to Scrap Yards

Authorities are running awareness campaigns with recycling centers or scrap yards, as they are better known, urging them not to purchase this type of material, as it is often the product of looting and contributes to these types of robberies. These thefts target not only schools but have also increased against the public lighting system, buildings under construction, and other facilities.