Senseless vandalism may delay the completion of renovations at the Berkeley Institute.

Principal Michelle Gabisi yesterday expressed disgust with the thousands of dollars of damage caused at the school on Thursday night.

Vandals broke into Berkeley -- which is undergoing $600,000 worth of repairs -- via a classroom window and gained access to two-thirds of the school.

They spray painted the corridors, stairwells, new carpet, and doorknobs with silver paint.

They also ransacked several classrooms and the physical education office.

But other than one member of the renovation crew reporting the theft of his Panasonic radio/cassette player, nothing was taken.

"It is just senseless,'' Ms Gabisi said. "They had access to a television set and computers, but they did not take that. Instead they spray painted door knobs on at least ten doors, broke down several doors, broke into the physical education office and ransacked it, and spray painted brand new carpet.'' Observing the damage and watching as workmen applied coats of fresh paint which hardly disguised the graffiti written in metallic blue and silver paint, she estimated that the vandalism will set back renovation work "at least a few days''.

"We had hoped to have renovations completed by the middle of next month so that cleaners could come in weeks before classes resumed (September 8),'' she said. "It (the vandalism) means that we will have workmen here up until school opens.'' While the incident was the first for Berkeley, Ms Gabisi noted that vandalism was a problem for schools islandwide.

"It is something we need to look at for the short and long term,'' she said.

"It (vandalism at schools) is something we need to all look at.

"We are here for everyone and therefore when this kind of crime happens, it is a crime against the whole community. It is not just a crime against Berkeley, but against all of Bermuda.''