Three former Lord Botetourt High School students are accused of breaking into the school’s field house last week and stealing thousands of dollars worth of electronic equipment and damaging four buildings.

Between the stolen property and the damage, the three men caused more than $16,500 in harm to the school, according to the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office (read the sheriff's full statement here).

“Their motive? Ignorance,” said school principal Tim Bane.

Among the equipment taken Thursday was Lord Botetourt’s video system, a 42-inch flat screen television and the control system for the scoreboard’s graphics, said Bane. “They knew exactly what they were doing and what they were looking for.”

Investigators have found most of the equipment and returned it. Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle said the stolen equipment also included computer monitors, laptop computers and a DVD player. He estimated the value of the equipment at $12,550 and the damage to the buildings at $4,100.

Bane said hatchets were taken to the steel doors of four buildings, and the culprits took snacks and drinks from both the softball concession and the baseball press box.

The sheriff’s office said Cameron Wayne Collins, 18, and Derrike Ethan Walker, 19, both of Troutville, and Matthew Joshua Colombini, 18, of Daleville, have each been charged with one count of larceny and one count of breaking and entering.

Walker is being held in the Botetourt County Jail. Colombini and Collins have been released on bond.