by Ian Elliot
Northern News Services

NNSL (Oct 01/97) - Two young boys learned an expensive lesson Sunday about respecting others' property.

Police went to N.J. MacPherson school after receiving a report that someone was breaking windows. They found one kicked-in window and two overturned concrete picnic tables.

After interviewing witnesses and the school principal, police were led to two boys who lived nearby.

Principal Pam Petten was in the school when the damage was done on Sunday but did not see it happen. The children were playing on the school grounds prior to the damage being done, she said, and it looked like an impulsive act.

"They're not bad kids, they just made a bad decision," she said.

"Hopefully they will learn that there are consequences to their actions."

She was also appreciative that a nearby resident helped the police locate the boys.

Because the boys are under 12, they cannot be charged with a criminal offence, but they will be appearing at the school to apologize for their vandalism, police say, and will also be forking over their allowances for the next while to pay for the damage.